Aghahosseini, Arman, et al. “Analysing the Feasibility of Powering the Americas with Renewable Energy and Inter-Regional Grid Interconnections by 2030.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 105, 2019, pp. 187-205.
The authors of this academic article investigate the future of renewable green energy in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Aghahosseini et al. refer to these documents as “the two biggest climate action initiatives” (187). In this regard, the developed nations of the world are encouraged to seek new sources of energy that will reduce the environmental impact on humanity. Furthermore, one of the key objectives extends beyond increasing the role of green energy. In fact, the idea is to provide society and business with the help of exclusively renewable sources. Following the general, Aghahosseini et al. rely on 2030 as the reference year. The research reveals a Levelized cost of electricity between 48.8 and 59 euros per MWh for scenarios varying from decentralized to fully centralized systems. Estimations suggest that the costs will be too high unless advanced hybrid frameworks are developed. The value of this study consists of the objective perspective it introduces into the discussion. The pursuit of sustainability should be considerate and well-paced to avoid a situation when the new system becomes unable to provide the population with cost-efficient energy.
Kaufman, Leslie. “Is 100% Renewable Energy Feasible? New Paper Argues for a Different Target.” Inside Climate News, 2017.
The next piece of knowledge represents a review of the topical studies related to 100% renewable energy as the primary means of reducing the environmental impact of humanity. Within this discussion, Kaufman uses 2050 as the reference year, shifting the focus toward long-term prospects. The author relies on several recent studies to determine whether an energy grid comprising solely renewable sources is feasible for the United States. From the economic and technological perspectives, the current pace of development appears sufficient to meet the human energy needs by the year 2050. In fact, while the pursuit of fully renewable energy is “neither cheap nor effective” at present, there exist even stronger obstacles to its implementation (Kaufman). The leading experts and scholars of the industry relate their fears in this regard to the possibility of social and political drawbacks. In other words, society, in general, is not prepared to alter the patterns of energy consumption in the current political landscape. This is an important idea for the present research, as it highlights the multi-faceted nature of the problem. Solutions to it are feasible, but they require rigorous research not to cause complications.
Narayanan, Arun, et al. “Feasibility of 100% Renewable Energy-Based Electricity Production for Cities with Storage and Flexibility.” Renewable Energy, vol. 134, 2019, pp. 698 – 709.
The issue of fully renewable energy grid feasibility remains a matter of intense interest for experts and researchers. Narayanan et al. concentrate on this topic within a city environment, which aligns with the ongoing urbanization of global society (698). According to their findings, the cost-efficiency of this format for urban settings remains sub-optimal at the current stage of development. In this regard, it appears more feasible to meet the partial demand of the population for specific objectives or periods. Therefore, the pressing task is to advance the cost-efficiency of 100% renewable energy grids. According to Narayanan et al., such an outcome is possible through an integrated approach, creating a system that combines “electricity, heat, transport, and other sectors” (706). This study appears highly relevant to the envisaged discussion because it places the matter in a broader context. In other words, it is vital to refrain from the isolated considerations regarding renewable energy. The concept itself is highly promising in terms of mitigating climate change and reducing the environmental impact of humanity. However, new solutions need to be incorporated in a broader system that will help renewable energy maximize its efficiency.
Works Cited
Aghahosseini, Arman et al. “Analysing the Feasibility of Powering the Americas with Renewable Energy and Inter-Regional Grid Interconnections by 2030.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 105, 2019, pp. 187-205.
Kaufman, Leslie. “Is 100% Renewable Energy Feasible? New Paper Argues for a Different Target.” Inside Climate News, 2017.
Narayanan, Arun et al. “Feasibility of 100% Renewable Energy-Based Electricity Production for Cities with Storage and Flexibility.” Renewable Energy, vol. 134, 2019, pp. 698 – 709.