100% NEW ENERGY FOR EUROPE BY 2050

Europe could be 100% renewable energy by 2050: study; Europe and North Africa could obtain all of their electricity from renewable energy by 2050, if the concept is supported by a single European power market united with a similar market in North Africa.
30 March 2010 (Renewable Energy Focus)

"A transformation of the power sector based on 100% renewable energy would address energy security and supply concerns, while decarbonising electricity generation and, at the same time, contributing to a substantial reduction in energy poverty, concludes 100% Renewable Electricity - A roadmap to 2050 for Europe and North Africa…

"Taking into account existing infrastructure and electricity generation capacities, and recognising the need for a cross-national power system, the proposed ‘SuperSmart Grid’ would allow load and demand management for power, independent of when and where the power is generated…"

Connecting EU wind...(click to enlarge)

"It would make the most of natural resources and established weather patterns by incorporating the…[the solar potential of southern Europe and North Africa] with onshore and offshore wind farms in the Baltic and North Sea. It would also rely on the hydro capability of Scandinavia and the European alps, the continent’s ocean tidal and wave power, and biomass generation across Europe…

"The researchers studied the policy, markets, investments and infrastructure leadership that is needed to achieve a goal of 100% renewable energy in terms of financial, infrastructure and government policy milestones for policy makers and business…[including] in addition to renewables…the expansion of nuclear power and the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) for the burning of fossil fuels."

...to North African and Middle East sun. (click to enlarge)

"Currently, the European grid is dominated by fossil fuel (55%) and nuclear (30%), but 15% of the continent’s electricity is generated from renewable energy dominated by old hydropower stations…Despite this, the technological capability for developing renewable power is already in place, or emerging and envisaged, and the economics of the key technologies is improving despite the difficult financing environment..

"The policy road map assumes a build-up of significant renewable energy generation capacity by 2015 to harvest wind and solar potentials, and the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies by 2020. There would be strategic decommissioning of fossil fuel plants in Europe and North Africa starting in 2030, leading to their wholesale replacement by large-scale renewable power generation by 2040…"