Renewable energy: overview
Autor(es): Wim Turkenburg
Palavras-Chave: Energia renovável; Fontes; Tecnologia; Recursos renováveis
Notas: In 1998 renewable energy sources supplied 56 ± 10 EJ (14% of world primary energy). Traditional biomass (38 ± 10 EJ), large hydropower (9 EJ) and modern biomass (7 EJ) werw the man sources; commercial energy supply from renewable was 27 ± 6 EJ (7% of world consumption). Renewable energy can meet many times the present world energy demand, increasing supply diversification, securing long-term supplies and reducing local and global atmospheric emissions. Substantial cost reductions can be achieved for most renewable, still requiring further technology development and market deployment. Expected values for projected costs for geothermal, hydro, wind and solar power are presented, as well as for biomass. Electric and thermal power are considered. Scenarios investigating the potential of renewable indicate they might contribute 20-50% of the supply in the second half of the 21st century.