Europe has enough space to create millions of wind turbines that could power the entire world until 2050, according to a new scientific analysis. An international team of researchers say there is 4.9 million square kilometres of land – 46 per cent of Europe’s total land – that would be suitable for wind turbines, according to the paper published in Energy Policy. Building 11 million additional wind turbines could create 497 exajoules of power which would supply the world’s energy needs until 2050 when there is expected to be a global demand of 430 exajoules. Reaching this target would mean ramping up onshore wind power production by a factor of more than 100, scientists say. They say we need to drastically increase wind power to avert climate catastrophe. “The study is not a blueprint for development but a guide for policymakers, indicating the potential of how much more can be done and where the prime opportunities exist,” said co-author Benjamin Sovacool, professor of energy policy at the University of Sussex. “Our study suggests that the horizon is bright for the onshore wind sector and that European aspirations for a 100 per cent renewable energy grid are within our collective grasp technologically,” he said.
Independent 14th Aug 2019 read more »
If Europe installed as many wind turbines as possible the continent would be able to produce enough clean electricity to power the whole world. That is the eye-catching conclusion of a new study released yesterday by the University of Sussex and Aarhus University, which concludes Europe could produce 100 times more energy than it currently does through onshore wind farms if it built turbines on all the suitable sites across the continent.
Business Green 15th Aug 2019 read more »