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The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Felix Creutzig

    (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
    Sustainability Economics of Human Settlements, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • Peter Agoston

    (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change)

  • Jan Christoph Goldschmidt

    (Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE)

  • Gunnar Luderer

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Gregory Nemet

    (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
    La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin – Madison)

  • Robert C. Pietzcker

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

Abstract

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's fifth assessment report emphasizes the importance of bioenergy and carbon capture and storage for achieving climate goals, but it does not identify solar energy as a strategically important technology option. That is surprising given the strong growth, large resource, and low environmental footprint of photovoltaics (PV). Here we explore how models have consistently underestimated PV deployment and identify the reasons for underlying bias in models. Our analysis reveals that rapid technological learning and technology-specific policy support were crucial to PV deployment in the past, but that future success will depend on adequate financing instruments and the management of system integration. We propose that with coordinated advances in multiple components of the energy system, PV could supply 30–50% of electricity in competitive markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix Creutzig & Peter Agoston & Jan Christoph Goldschmidt & Gunnar Luderer & Gregory Nemet & Robert C. Pietzcker, 2017. "The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(9), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:2:y:2017:i:9:d:10.1038_nenergy.2017.140
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2017.140
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