US, Canada Japan and 3 EU countries can go 100% renewable by 2050: researcher

Stanford University scientist Mark Jacobson, who developed a 50-state road map for transforming the United States from dependence on fossil fuels to 100-per cent renewable energy by 2050, is reported to have prepared similar renewable energy roadmaps for the UK, Germany, France Italy, Canada and Japan as well.

Researchers at The Solutions Project, led by Mark Z Jacobson, have now chalked out a plan for these most industrialised countries to ease their dependence on fossil fuels and shift to 100-per cent renewable energy use by 2050, according to a report published by Zachary Shahan in cleantechnica.com.

The roadmap has been prepared on the basis of a realistic study of the electricity needs of each region of these countries for the entire year and matching those with the most logical renewable energy resources in the region.

In fact, the report says, The Solutions Project crew led by Mark Z Jacobson has been doing this for countries across the world.

Earlier, in April Jacobson had, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago, unveiled the plan for America going 100-per cent renewable energy consuming.

"Drastic problems require drastic and immediate solutions," said Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Our new roadmap is designed to provide each state a first step toward a renewable future."

Replacing fossil fuels with clean technologies would significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming and spare the lives of an estimated 59,000 Americans who die from exposure to air pollution annually, he had said.

In recent years, Jacobson and his colleagues have developed detailed proposals for converting the energy infrastructures of New York, California and Washington states to 100 percent wind, water and solar power by 2050.

The new plan includes an online interactive map tailored to maximise the renewable resource potential of each of the 50 states. These states can meet virtually all of their power demands (transportation, electricity, heating, etc) by 2050 by switching to a clean technology portfolio that is 55 per cent solar, 35 per cent wind (on- and offshore), 5 per cent geothermal and 4 per cent hydroelectric.

Interestingly, nuclear power, ethanol and other biofuels are not included in the proposed energy mix for any of the states.

The Solutions Project for the six countries relies heavily on wind power. Even Japan gets 28 per cent from wind power, which is comparatively cost-competitive.

The Germanplan has the country getting a large share of its energy from geothermal force.

Rooftop solar PV has limited role in almost all cases, the largest being 8 per cent in the case of Japan. However, a larger portion of its energy needs would still come from large PV plants.

Zachary Shahan has also shared seven infographics prepared under The Solutions Project  for the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.