Question

Make an argument for what mix of energy you see the world powered by in 2050. Include in your analysis – in words – not equations: What mix of stationary power will there be, and why? What will power our transportation system (focus on vehicles, you may neglect airplanes and ships)? What fraction of energy will be used for transportation and what fraction will be for stationary power? What role will power providers play, and what role will consumers play in driving this 2050 energy mix?

Answer 1

The sources of energy that will power the world in 2050 will also include some undiscovered forms of usable energy. By the current standards, it is estimated that renewable energy sources will be the subscription for at least 50% of the energy consumption of the world. In the year 2015, solar and wind energy accounted for around 7% of the total produce, thereby predicting a growth of a full order magnitude over the next three decades.
For this rapid base expansion of the renewables to happen, they should be made economically inclusive, commercially viable, and environmentally sustainable.
Vehicles by 2050 will be a significant consumer of the total energy yield. Though the number of vehicles powered will enlarge, yet a more substantial proportion would still be oil-dependent owing to its conventional use, and its barter as a global exchange commodity. Shifting from the crude oil base for currency reserves would be deemed harmful for the developed countries; thus, they will lobby against the aggravated consumption of the non-harmful producer of energy at the United Nations or any other environmental summit. Also, we might even see hydrogen-powered or water-powered vehicles by then, as experiments for using such fuels are underway. Thus, it safe to assume that vehicles will account for around 30% of the total power usage.
Consumers will not be given much choice in the options of energy as these are decided upon by the government. Educating the masses about the benefits of renewable sources of energy would put pressure on the world leaders to act in the right direction and change their policy towards sustenance. While providers can have a substantial impact on the type of production, by arranging for subsidies and making the environment-friendly resources cheap. The purpose, in turn, can be facilitated by the government by reducing the taxes on such businesses and imposing an environmental tax on companies having a large carbon footprint.