Look for a coal crossing
As we ask more of our grid, the key factor that will determine what all this means for climate change is what supplies the electricity we are using.
As things stand, the world’s grids are still powered primarily by fossil fuels, so every growth in electricity comes with planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. However, that is slowly changing.
Together, solar and wind energy were the main source of electricity in the first half of this year, overtaking coal for the first time. Coal use could peak and begin to decline by the end of this decade.
Nuclear energy could play a role in replacing fossil fuels: After two decades of stagnation, the world’s nuclear fleet could increase by a third in the next 10 years. Solar energy will also continue its meteoric rise. Of all the electricity demand growth we expect in the next decade, 80% occurs in places with high-quality solar irradiation, meaning they are good places for solar energy.
Ultimately, there are many ways the world is moving in the right direction on energy. But we are far from moving fast enough. Global emissions are, once again, will reach a record this year. To limit warming and prevent the worst effects of climate change, we need to remake our energy system, including electricity, and we need to do it faster.
This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology ReviewWeekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, register here.
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