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https://theconversation.com/itll-be-impossible-to-replace-fossil-fuels-with-renewables-by-2050-unless-we-cut-our-energy-consumption-189131>
"Energy consumption – whether its heating your home, driving, oil refining or
liquefying natural gas – is responsible for around 82% of Australia’s
greenhouse gas emissions.
Unless Australia reduces its energy consumption, my recent study finds it’ll be
almost impossible for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels by 2050. This is
what’s required to reach our net-zero emissions target.
Yet, as the nation’s economy recovers from the pandemic, Australia’s energy
consumption is likely to return to its pre-pandemic growth. The study
identifies two principal justifications for reducing energy consumption (or
“energy descent”):
1. the likely slow rate of electrifying transport and heating
2. that renewable energy will be chasing a retreating target if energy
consumption grows.
Energy descent isn’t an impossible task. Indeed, in 1979, Australia’s total
final energy consumption was about half that in 2021. Key to success will be
transitioning to an ecologically sustainable, steady-state economy, with
greener technologies and industries."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
