ENERGY SUPPLY – Wind and Solar Energy
This lever is
currently set at
AMBITION LEVEL:
This lever allows you to determine the total production capacity - in 2050 - of wind turbines (at sea and on land) and solar
panels (photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and thermal panels that absorb heat from sunlight for domestic hot
water or heating of buildings).
Wind and solar energy are two renewable resources that generate electricity or heat with no greenhouse gas emissions.
Their deployment is thus vital if fossil fuel use and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions are to be considerably reduced.
However, wind turbines and solar panels do not produce energy continuously: their production depends on the quantity of wind
or sun available. Wind and sun are intermittent energy sources.
In 2010 the installed capacity of wind (onshore and offshore) and solar (thermal and photovoltaic) amounted to 1,8 GW*. In
2050 this total capacity can increase considerably, varying from 18 GW (ambition level 1) to 104 GW (ambition level 4).
© Fotolia/Eyematrix 44797039 (brochure 2050)
Wind and solar energy: installed capacity in 2010 and 2050
(in GW)
50
40
30
GW
wind - on land
wind - at sea
sun - thermal
sun - photovoltaic
20
10
0
2010
1
2
3
4
Ambition level
Opportunities and challenges
OPPORTUNITIES
Solar and wind energy production is CO2
neutral, avoids the emission of other
hazardous substances (such as particulate
matter) and reduces energy dependence.
The sun and wind are freely available and the
production costs of energy from these sources
are dropping considerably.
The construction and operation of the systems
can create job opportunities and encourage
activities in new high-tech sectors.
CHALLENGES
The intermittent nature of these sources
requires several changes to the energy
system: in terms of energy demand
(increasing flexibility) and in terms of energy
supply (more backup (e.g. gas-fired power
stations), storage (to accommodate peaks)
and improved interconnection (to level off peak
demand and to distribute backup and
storage).
The installation of wind turbines on land can
lead to resistance because of the potential
negative visual impact, noise pollution for local
residents, obstacles for migratory birds, etc.
The involvement of citizens under joint
ownership in the new wind turbines and solar
parks could increase public support for these
technologies.
* A capacity of 1 GW (gigawatt), which is equal to 1,000 MW (megawatts) or one million kW (kilowatts), is approximately
equivalent to the capacity of a recent Belgian nuclear power station such as Doel 4.
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