Can a solar-wind system meet future energy demands?

Accelerating energy transition towards renewables is central to net-zero emissions. However, building a global power system dominated by solar and wind energy presents immense challenges. Here, we demonstrate the potential of a globally interconnected solar-wind system to meet future electricity demands.

How much electricity can a solar-wind power plant generate?

Our estimates suggest that the total electricity generation from global interconnectable solar-wind potential could reach a staggering level of [237.33 ± 1.95] × 10³ TWh/year (mean ± standard deviation; the standard deviation is due to climatic fluctuations).

Are solar and wind resources interconnected?

Theoretically, the potential of solar and wind resources on Earth vastly surpasses human demand 33, 34. In our pursuit of a globally interconnected solar-wind system, we have focused solely on the potentials that are exploitable, accessible, and interconnectable (see “Methods”).

What happens if solar-wind generation exceeds net power demand?

When solar-wind generation within a grid exceeds its net power demand (i.e., total demand minus baseload), surplus power is first transferred to interconnected grids experiencing shortages, with the remaining surplus stored until capacity is reached. Any surplus beyond storage capacity is curtailed.

What is a hybrid solar-wind-wave energy converter (swwec)?

This article presents a novel design and dynamic emulation for a hybrid solar-wind-wave energy converter (SWWEC) which is the combination of three very well-known renewable energies: solar, wind and wave energy.

Is solar power more efficient than wind power?

The stability of wind and solar energy resources is crucial for achieving efficient hybrid power generation. Liu et al. demonstrated that due to the solar diurnal cycle, the hourly variability of solar power generation in most parts of China is greater than that of wind power.