Page 64 - European Energy Innovation - Autumn 2015 publication
P. 64
Autumn 2015 European Energy Innovation
SOLAR POWER
Moon stated, “There is No Plan B, needs of expanding global supply anyone, anywhere can
Because There is No Planet B”. energy consumption and generate their own power with
decarbonisation. solar. You don’t need a grid, so
COP21, hailed as the most solar can really help to unleash
important environmental meeting For policymakers it gets even the potential of countries in the
in history, represents an immense better, as solar power is also developing world.
opportunity to change the way becoming the cheapest form
the world is powered. Turning of electricity generation in the But it’s not all plain sailing, there
away from non-sustainable world. It therefore provides a are indeed large interests that
fossil fuels and nuclear. The cost-effective means of fighting still pose potential barriers to
conference can play a major role climate change, with the levelised seeing the successful deployment
in securing a long-term clean cost of solar electricity production of solar at the global scale.
future for generations to come. in parts of Europe already today, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
The outcome of COP21 must be being cheaper than any other estimated that coal is set to attract
a major contribution to creating technology. Solar system price US$1.6 trillion of investment over
an energy system that addresses declines of around 75% have the next 25 years, more than
climate change, with renewable been recorded in less than 10 any other fossil fuel or nuclear
energy, such as solar power, at its years. This is a trend that will power. If this is set to be the
core. only continue, so that by 2025 case, analysis suggests that as
solar will be the cheapest form of a result, emissions from power
The world urgently needs to electricity production for most of generation will continue to grow
reduce its dependence on Europe. until 2029, making the goal of
polluting fossil fuels and costly limiting temperature increases to
nuclear power. Fortunately Secondly for policy makers 2 degrees virtually impossible.
there are real solutions already it’s a political no-brainer. Solar
available from renewable sources, continues to enjoy the largest This would be the opposite of
and embracing these will offer the popular support of any power the outcome that is needed
solution to climate change and its technology. In Europe, 94% of from world leaders in Paris in
associated misery. As a leading respondents to a Eurobarometer December. Coal fired power
renewable power, solar is a real survey supported the deployment plants remain the biggest source
viable solution for decarbonizing of solar power in 2014. This is a of man-made CO2 emissions, it
the power sector and fighting trend reflected globally, offering is therefore crucial that action is
climate change at a global level. politicians of all political hues a taken in COP21 to ensure that
The versatility and predictability solution to the energy transition the future of coal does not come
of solar means that it can be and maintaining political support. to pass. Instead of protecting the
an effective power source from technologies of the past, COP21
Norway to New Zealand. With popular support and must forge the future of energy
decreasing costs, solar is the by providing the right signal for
Solar really is a carbon reducing opportunity for the leaders at investments in solar and other
technology. In 2014 alone, the COP21. Solar deployment has renewable power sources.
use of the world’s installed solar experienced worldwide growth,
power arrays saved over 110 with 2014 being a record year for The question of nuclear power is
million tonnes of CO2 emissions, solar deployment – some 40 GW also important, and in this regard
which is the equivalent of have been connected worldwide. it as a question of cost. Many
Greece’s annual CO2 emissions. The total of solar installations governments consider nuclear
In 2050 solar is forecast to save now stands at 180GW and it is power as a key part in their
4 billion tonnes of CO2, the global – from the Americas to decarbonisation strategy. However,
equivalent of taking 1.7 billion Australia. It supports developed the cost of new build nuclear
cars off the road. We have at and developing countries alike. power stations is considerable,
our disposal a technology that In this sense solar power is also with the proposed Hinckley Point
really can address the twin a democratic form of power C plant in the UK able to deliver at
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
SOLAR POWER
Moon stated, “There is No Plan B, needs of expanding global supply anyone, anywhere can
Because There is No Planet B”. energy consumption and generate their own power with
decarbonisation. solar. You don’t need a grid, so
COP21, hailed as the most solar can really help to unleash
important environmental meeting For policymakers it gets even the potential of countries in the
in history, represents an immense better, as solar power is also developing world.
opportunity to change the way becoming the cheapest form
the world is powered. Turning of electricity generation in the But it’s not all plain sailing, there
away from non-sustainable world. It therefore provides a are indeed large interests that
fossil fuels and nuclear. The cost-effective means of fighting still pose potential barriers to
conference can play a major role climate change, with the levelised seeing the successful deployment
in securing a long-term clean cost of solar electricity production of solar at the global scale.
future for generations to come. in parts of Europe already today, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
The outcome of COP21 must be being cheaper than any other estimated that coal is set to attract
a major contribution to creating technology. Solar system price US$1.6 trillion of investment over
an energy system that addresses declines of around 75% have the next 25 years, more than
climate change, with renewable been recorded in less than 10 any other fossil fuel or nuclear
energy, such as solar power, at its years. This is a trend that will power. If this is set to be the
core. only continue, so that by 2025 case, analysis suggests that as
solar will be the cheapest form of a result, emissions from power
The world urgently needs to electricity production for most of generation will continue to grow
reduce its dependence on Europe. until 2029, making the goal of
polluting fossil fuels and costly limiting temperature increases to
nuclear power. Fortunately Secondly for policy makers 2 degrees virtually impossible.
there are real solutions already it’s a political no-brainer. Solar
available from renewable sources, continues to enjoy the largest This would be the opposite of
and embracing these will offer the popular support of any power the outcome that is needed
solution to climate change and its technology. In Europe, 94% of from world leaders in Paris in
associated misery. As a leading respondents to a Eurobarometer December. Coal fired power
renewable power, solar is a real survey supported the deployment plants remain the biggest source
viable solution for decarbonizing of solar power in 2014. This is a of man-made CO2 emissions, it
the power sector and fighting trend reflected globally, offering is therefore crucial that action is
climate change at a global level. politicians of all political hues a taken in COP21 to ensure that
The versatility and predictability solution to the energy transition the future of coal does not come
of solar means that it can be and maintaining political support. to pass. Instead of protecting the
an effective power source from technologies of the past, COP21
Norway to New Zealand. With popular support and must forge the future of energy
decreasing costs, solar is the by providing the right signal for
Solar really is a carbon reducing opportunity for the leaders at investments in solar and other
technology. In 2014 alone, the COP21. Solar deployment has renewable power sources.
use of the world’s installed solar experienced worldwide growth,
power arrays saved over 110 with 2014 being a record year for The question of nuclear power is
million tonnes of CO2 emissions, solar deployment – some 40 GW also important, and in this regard
which is the equivalent of have been connected worldwide. it as a question of cost. Many
Greece’s annual CO2 emissions. The total of solar installations governments consider nuclear
In 2050 solar is forecast to save now stands at 180GW and it is power as a key part in their
4 billion tonnes of CO2, the global – from the Americas to decarbonisation strategy. However,
equivalent of taking 1.7 billion Australia. It supports developed the cost of new build nuclear
cars off the road. We have at and developing countries alike. power stations is considerable,
our disposal a technology that In this sense solar power is also with the proposed Hinckley Point
really can address the twin a democratic form of power C plant in the UK able to deliver at
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
