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Are the land and other resources required for total substitution of fossil fuel power systems impossibly large? Evidence from concentrating solar power and China

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  • Mathews, John A.
  • Hu, Mei-Chih
  • Wu, Ching-Yan

Abstract

The task of substituting the entire global fossil-fueled energy system by renewables is increasingly discussed in the energy literature, but in the social sciences academy it is widely viewed as impossibly large within any meaningful timeframe. In this article we argue that such pessimism is ill-founded. Taking as our starting point the material and energy requirements of existing operating systems such as the Shams1 Concentrating Solar Power plant, we scale these up to generate the real resource demands of a renewable electrical energy system to supply the entire planet – and find these to be feasible, particularly if it is China that takes on the manufacturing challenge. We argue that such results need to be promoted more vigorously by energy and carbon management scholars.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathews, John A. & Hu, Mei-Chih & Wu, Ching-Yan, 2015. "Are the land and other resources required for total substitution of fossil fuel power systems impossibly large? Evidence from concentrating solar power and China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 275-281.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:46:y:2015:i:c:p:275-281
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.02.045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John A Mathews & Sean Kidney, 2012. "Financing climate-friendly energy development through bonds," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(2), pages 337-349, June.
    2. Hang, Qu & Jun, Zhao & Xiao, Yu & Junkui, Cui, 2008. "Prospect of concentrating solar power in China--the sustainable future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2505-2514, December.
    3. Jacobson, Mark Z. & Delucchi, Mark A., 2011. "Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1154-1169, March.
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    1. Giglio, Andrea & Lanzini, Andrea & Leone, Pierluigi & Rodríguez García, Margarita M. & Zarza Moya, Eduardo, 2017. "Direct steam generation in parabolic-trough collectors: A review about the technology and a thermo-economic analysis of a hybrid system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 453-473.
    2. Islam, Md Tasbirul & Huda, Nazmul & Abdullah, A.B. & Saidur, R., 2018. "A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Current status and research trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 987-1018.
    3. Fan, Xiao-chao & Wang, Wei-qing, 2016. "Spatial patterns and influencing factors of China׳s wind turbine manufacturing industry: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 482-496.
    4. Vieira de Souza, Luiz Enrique & Gilmanova Cavalcante, Alina Mikhailovna, 2017. "Concentrated Solar Power deployment in emerging economies: The cases of China and Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1094-1103.

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