7.1 Global Renewable Energy Potentials
“ (…) any form of energy from solar, geophysical or biological sources that is replenished by natural processes at a rate that equals or exceeds its rate of use. Renewable energy is obtained from the continuing or repetitive flows of energy occurring in the natural environment and includes low-carbon technologies such as solar energy, hydropower, wind, tide and waves and ocean thermal energy, as well as renewable fuels such as biomass.”
“Theoretical potential: The theoretical potential identifies the physical upper limit of the energy available from a certain source. For solar energy, for example, this would be the total solar radiation falling on a particular surface. This potential does therefore not take account of any restrictions on utilization, nor is the efficiency of the conversion technologies considered.Conversion potential: The conversion potential is defined specifically for each technology and is derived from the theoretical potential and the annual efficiency of the respective conversion technology. The conversion potential is therefore not a strictly defined value, since the efficiency of a particular technology depends on technological progress.Technological potential: The technological potential is derived from the conversion potential, taking account of additional restrictions regarding the area that is realistically available for energy generation. […] like the conversion potential, the technological potential of the different energy sources is therefore not a strictly defined value but depends on numerous boundary conditions and assumptions.Economic potential: This potential identifies the proportion of the technological potential that can be utilized economically, based on economic boundary conditions at a certain time […].Sustainable potential: This potential of an energy source covers all aspects of sustainability, which usually requires careful consideration and evaluation of different ecological and socio-economic aspects […].” (END Quote)
Renewable energy resource | Theoretical potential (Annual energy flux) [EJ/year] IPCC 2011
| Technical potential [EJ/year] Global energy assessment 2012, Chap. 11, p. 774 | Utilization in 2015 [EJ/year] IEA-WEO 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
Solar energy | 3,900,000 | 62,000–280,000 | 1.3 |
Wind energy | 6000 | 1250–2250 | 1.9 |
Bioenergy | 1548 | 160–270 | 51.5 |
Geothermal energy | 1400 | 810–1545 | 2.4 |
Hydropower | 147 | 50–60 | 13.2 |
Ocean energy | 7400 | 3240–10,500 | 0.0018 |
Total | 76,000–294,500 | (Total primary energy demand 2015) 555 EJ/year |
7.1.1 Bioenergy
7.2 Economic Renewable Energy Potential in Space-Constrained Environments
7.2.1 Constrains for Utility-Scale Solar and Wind Power Plants
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Residential and urban settlements;
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Infrastructure for transport (e.g., rail, roads);
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Industrial areas;
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Intensive agricultural production land;
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Nature conservation areas and national parks;
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Wetlands and swamps;
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Closed grasslands (a land-use type) (GLC 2000).
7.2.2 Mapping Solar and Wind Potential
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Solar photovoltaic: 1 MW = 0.04 km2
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Concentrated solar power: 1 MW = 0.04 km2
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Onshore wind: 1 MW = 0.2 km2
Region | Subregion | Solar | Onshore wind | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potential availability for utility-scale installations | Space potential | Potential availability for utility-scale installations | Space potential | ||
[km2] | [GW] | [km2] | [GW] | ||
OECD North America | Canada East | 2,742,668 | 68,567 | 2,530,232 | 12,651 |
Canada West | 2,242,715 | 56,068 | 2,180,271 | 10,901 | |
Mexico | 3,365,974 | 84,149 | 3,341,940 | 16,710 | |
USA – South East | 269,650 | 6741 | 254,976 | 1275 | |
USA – North East | 1,043,033 | 26,076 | 1,043,026 | 5215 | |
USA – South West | 1,847,162 | 46,179 | 1,840,980 | 9205 | |
USA – North West | 431,277 | 10,782 | 427,709 | 2139 | |
USA – Alaska | 1,152,288 | 28,807 | 1,091,698 | 5458 | |
Latin America | Caribbean | 34,238 | 856 | 34,238 | 171 |
Central America | 17,529 | 438 | 17,603 | 88 | |
North Latin America | 869,811 | 21,745 | 869,811 | 4349 | |
Brazil | 1,623,625 | 40,591 | 1,623,625 | 8118 | |
Central South America | 1,023,848 | 25,596 | 1,024,340 | 5122 | |
Chile | 693,990 | 17,350 | 693,990 | 3470 | |
Argentina | 1,651,168 | 41,279 | 1,651,168 | 8256 | |
CSA – Uruguay | 32,360 | 809 | 32,360 | 162 | |
Europe | EU – Central | 146,797 | 3670 | 146,797 | 734 |
EU – UK and Islands | 22,406 | 560 | 22,406 | 112 | |
EU – Iberian Peninsula | 15,608 | 390 | 15,608 | 78 | |
EU – Balkans + Greece | 4825 | 121 | 4825 | 24 | |
EU – Baltic | 32,090 | 802 | 32,090 | 160 | |
EU – Nordic | 218,496 | 5462 | 218,496 | 1092 | |
Turkey | 134,354 | 3359 | 134,354 | 672 | |
Middle East | East – Middle East | 165,302 | 4133 | 5738 | 29 |
North – Middle East | 91,970 | 2299 | 7123 | 36 | |
Iraq | 119,967 | 2999 | 9104 | 46 | |
Iran | 586,595 | 14,665 | 57,965 | 290 | |
United Arab Emirates | 530 | 13 | 530 | 3 | |
Israel | 386 | 10 | 217 | 1 | |
Saudi Arabia | 13,284 | 332 | 13,284 | 66 | |
Africa | North – Africa | 9,726,388 | 243,160 | 9,784,694 | 48,923 |
East – Africa | 6,378,561 | 159,464 | 6,980,497 | 34,902 | |
West – Africa | 8,336,960 | 208,424 | 8,669,628 | 43,348 | |
Central – Africa | 7,229,129 | 180,728 | 7,509,351 | 37,547 | |
Southern – Africa | 3,269,644 | 81,741 | 3,547,591 | 17,738 | |
Rep. South Africa | 1,626,528 | 40,663 | 1,650,471 | 8252 |
Region | Subregion | Solar | Onshore wind | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potential availability for utility-scale installations | Space potential | Potential availability for utility-scale installations | Space potential | ||
[km2] | [GW] | [km2] | [GW] | ||
Non-OECD Asia | Asia-West (Himalaya) | 1,315,395 | 32,885 | 801,044 | 4005 |
South and South East Asia | 9062 | 227 | 8184 | 41 | |
Asia North West | 184,503 | 4613 | 43,710 | 219 | |
Asia Central North | 138,861 | 3472 | 81,228 | 406 | |
Philippines | 2634 | 66 | 941 | 5 | |
Indonesia | 106,581 | 2665 | 12,162 | 61 | |
Pacific Island States | 5510 | 138 | 673 | 3 | |
India | North – India | 229,314 | 5733 | 163,118 | 816 |
East – India | 32,511 | 813 | 5195 | 26 | |
West – West | 224,355 | 5609 | 121,441 | 607 | |
South – Incl. Islands | 129,346 | 3234 | 103,177 | 516 | |
Northeast – India | 77,379 | 1934 | 1821 | 9 | |
China | East – China | 47,621 | 1191 | 39,648 | 198 |
North – China | 425,350 | 10,634 | 825,272 | 4126 | |
Northeast – China | 193,006 | 4825 | 192,110 | 961 | |
Northwest – China | 5,642,854 | 141,071 | 1,603,909 | 8020 | |
Central – China | 256,272 | 6407 | 211,229 | 1056 | |
South – China | 500,211 | 12,505 | 317,046 | 1585 | |
Taiwan | 5862 | 147 | 2791 | 14 | |
Tibet | 5460 | 137 | 377,610 | 1888 | |
OECD Pacific | North Japan | 8697 | 217 | 8213 | 41 |
South Japan | 3567 | 89 | 3036 | 15 | |
North Korea | 10,724 | 268 | 9854 | 49 | |
South Korea | 2411 | 60 | 1892 | 9 | |
North New Zealand | 22,699 | 567 | 22,163 | 111 | |
South New Zealand | 25,106 | 628 | 46,266 | 231 | |
Australia – South and East (NEM) | 2,080,117 | 52,003 | 2,035,523 | 10,178 | |
Australia – West and North (NT) | 2,813,791 | 70,345 | 2,762,499 | 13,812 |