The latest United Nations Environment Programme report indicates that the cost of renewables continues decreasing.
The average cost of solar power in the US has decreased by 82% and wind power by 61% compared to 2009.
On a global scale however the average cost of megawatts from photovoltaic energy was set at 122 dollars in 2015, 11 dollars less than 2014 – the first place was gained by a system installed in Dubai, Acwa Power, which was able to get to 60 dollars.
Renewables contribute in fulfilling global need for electricity by 18% of its total, with a view to get to 36% by 2030.
This might lead to a 290 billion dollars increase per year on global electrical prices, but also lead to benefits in terms of reducing emissions and pollution, which would in turn benefit agriculture to the tune of roughly 4.2 billions of dollars per year, avoiding the emission of 12 billion tons of CO2 per year. That’s the only way to contain global warming increase to under 2° (compared to pre-industrial era), thus doubling the efforts set at Paris CoP21.
Excerpt from the Sole 24 Ore Nova article “Le rinnovabili oltre la congiuntura” by Elena Comelli.
