Renewable energy has been the most resilient form of power generation during lockdown, however, urgent investment is needed to scale systems and technologies and digitalize power grids to help meet climate goals, DNV GL’s latest Energy Transition Outlook – Power Supply and Use report reveals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, renewables demonstrated to be less volatile than fossil fuels, as electricity demand dropped. This resulted in higher renewables use – for example up to 70% renewables generation on some days in Germany and in the UK, more than 60 days with no electricity from coal.
2,690 GW solar and wind capacity by 2025
DNV GL’s report forecasts that renewable energy will increasingly dominate electricity generation. Solar and wind installed capacity will more than double from 1,250 GW in 2019 to 2,690 GW in 2025, continuing to grow and generate 62% of electricity by 2050.
Growth in renewables is forecast in all global regions, with significant expansion in Greater China, Europe, the Indian Subcontinent and North America. Wind generation is largely onshore, but offshore wind’s contribution will continue to grow, reaching about 28% of total wind production by mid-century. New renewables capacity can be installed more quickly, becoming ever more attractive from an investment perspective, through technological improvements, economies of scale and lower cost of capital for proven power plants.
Still not enough to meet climate targets
However, DNV GL warns it is still not enough to meet climate targets. This year’s Outlook reports that carbon emissions have peaked in 2019, yet they will not fall sufficiently by 2050 to reach the Paris Agreement goal of 2°C global warming, let alone 1.5°C. In fact, DNV GL estimates a rise in average global temperatures of 2.3°C above pre-industrial levels.
Ditlev Engel, CEO of DNV GL - Energy said: “It is encouraging to see increasing generation from renewables, but we know that it’s simply not enough to meet climate goals and urgent action is required now to transition faster. We desperately need governments around the world to dare to commit to post-pandemic economic stimulus packages, bold policies and regulations that will drive the uptake of low or zero carbon solutions.
Doubling of demand and electrification of energy use
The report predicts a doubling of electricity demand from 24 PWh/yr in 2019 to 48 PWh/yr in 2050 due to higher standards of living for much of the world’s population. Combined with electrification of energy use – powered by the massive expansion in renewable generation – it signals the need for a vast increase in the capacity of our electricity infrastructure. Solar and wind, together with other fossil-free sources of generation are predicted to supply more than 83% of electricity by mid-century, compared to 36% today.
More flexible digital electricity grids
As electricity will become the dominant energy carrier in 2034, with oil in second place, electricity grids and system integration will become more complex with new technologies including high-voltage-direct-current and hybrid grids. More intelligent grid operations, closer-to-real time energy markets and extensive utilization of flexibility options are needed. Grid flexibility will be provided by battery storage, greater grid interconnection, demand side response and flexible generation.
In Greater China, the Indian Subcontinent and Europe, expansion of grids to cover larger market areas will move from interconnection to supergrids, extreme and ultra-high-voltage systems for long distance transmission.
New emerging energy technologies to support clean and reliable energy supply
Ditlev Engel continued: “New and emerging technologies such as bifacial solar modules, larger wind turbines, floating solar and floating wind will play an increasing role over the next five years. The combination of these innovations with smarter management and analysis of data, increasing uptake of digital technologies and intelligent control to maximize the capture price, will lead to more efficient and cost-effective wind and solar power plants, which should make investment opportunities even more attractive. With the addition of new energy storage solutions, including hydrogen, a clean and reliable energy system will arise.”
Rapid uptake of bifacial solar cells
For solar PV, DNV GL forecasts a rapid uptake of bifacial solar cells which can generate power from both sides of the solar panel and boost energy yield by 5-12%. This new technology is estimated to grow to more than 25% of total global module production in the next five years.
With electric vehicles continuing to increase their share of sales and some countries prioritizing them as part of their green recovery, the research anticipates a more rapid uptake with half of passenger vehicles sold worldwide to be electric within the next 12 years. (hcn)
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