The world is using more energy than ever before, but most of it still comes from fossil fuels. We need to change course – and fast. This infographic explores if new technologies can put us on track for a clean energy future.

1. CLEAN ENERGY PATH
CHEAP RENEWABLES
WHY PRICES WILL FALL
RENEWABLES RACE
BUSINESS AS USUAL
THE ROAD TO CLEAN
ENERGY THROUGH INNOVATION
THE WORLD IS USING MORE ENERGY THAN EVER BEFORE. BUT MOST OF IT STILL COMES FROM
FOSSIL FUELS. WE NEED TO CHANGE COURSE—AND FAST. CAN NEW TECHNOLOGIES PUT US ON
TRACK FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE?
China currently has a quarter of the world's
renewable electricity capacity
Hydroelectricity is a renewable source
of energy, but not one that can be scaled
up sustainably. Flooding valleys for large
hydroelectric dams destroys wildlife
habitats and displaces people.
NO HYDRO?
Nuclear
Other
Wind
Solar
Hydro
Gas
Oil
Coal
15,000
12,000
9,000
6,000
3,000
1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015
LESS THAN 10% OF OUR ENERGY COMES FROM RENEWABLES
World primary energy consumption, million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
Clean energy scenario
Emissions peak before 2020
Business as usual scenario
Emissions keep rising until 2100
Average global temperature
increase in 2081-2100
compared to 1986-2005
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Wind and solar energy have seen triple-digit
growth over the last five years
Solar and wind will become super-affordable
over the next decade
1. MORE EFFICIENT PLANTS
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
A future where temperatures are nearly 5°C
higher is not a future we want
Nuclear
Other
Wind
Solar
Hydro
Gas
Oil
Coal
-6.9%
+38%
+146%
+14%
+8.6%
+6.2%
+5.7%
+664%
Gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity in 2015
By country
China
U.S.Germ
any
Japan
India
Italy
Spain
496
202
97
65
83
51 49
Note: Solar energy includes electricity from photovoltaic (PV) panels and electricity and, where relevant, heat from concentrating solar
power (CSP) plants. Individually-rounded values may not sum 100%.
Sources: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2016, IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, IRENA The Power to Change 2016, REN21
Renewables Global Status Report 2016, UN World Population Prospects 2015, Jacobson and Delucchi 2011.
AN UNSUSTAINABLE PATH
THE ROAD TO CLEAN
ENERGY THROUGH INNOVATION
ENERGY USE
Tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) per person
1965
2015
1.1 +59%
1.8
ENERGY-RELATED EMISSIONS
Tonnes of CO2
per person
1965
2015
3.4 +33%
4.6
THE WORLD'S POPULATION HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. BUT SO HAS
THE ENERGY USED PER PERSON, LEADING TO HIGHER CO2
EMISSIONS.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS. THE WORLD
HAS OVER 50 YEARS OF OIL AND GAS AND 100 YEARS OF COAL LEFT. BUT WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO BURN THEM.
A TURNING POINT
THE ROAD AHEAD
INTO THE DISTANCE
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Photovoltaic (PV)
Concentrating solar
Onshore wind
Offshore wind
12
9
6
5
18
15
13
7
Average global cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
of electricity, US cents
2015 2025
Bigger wind turbines will capture more energy
from the same amount of wind
2. DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATIONS
Digital technology will mean more efficient,
more reliable renewable energy storage
3. ECONOMIES OF SCALE
Doing business will become ever cheaper
and easier as markets for renewable
technologies grow
Digital wind farms: Use data from
sensors to position turbines precisely
and create more efficient blades
Average rotor diameter, US onshore wind turbines
1998
2014
2025
48 metres
99 metres
119 metres
Fall in module costs with every doubling of
energy capacity
Smart grids: Can handle the fluctuat-
ing power from wind and solar plants
and could be integrated with electric
vehicles
Predictive maintenance: Continuous
monitoring of energy plants so that
they can be fixed before they break
down
18-22%
Solar PV
12%
Wind
1,064
Hydro
433
Wind
232
Solar
120
Other
By source
1,819 GW
Global
THE BIZARRE TECHNOLOGIES BEING ROAD-TESTED TODAY THAT COULD
ONE DAY MEET OUR ENERGY NEEDS
BIODIESEL FROM ALGAE
Algae are up to 50% oil and can produce 15
times more fuel per acre than oil palm. Biodiesel
from giant algae-filled ponds could one day
power jet aircraft.
GIGANTIC BATTERIES
Nuclear plants provide a constant stream of
backup power. But power demand fluctuates
over the day, so surplus energy is generated at
off-peak times. Enormous batteries could soon
store this energy and release it when needed.
HIGH-ALTITUDE TURBINES
Winds in the jet stream, 8-16km up, are on
average eight times as powerful as surface
winds. What if we could capture that energy?
Over 50 commercial projects are currently
working on it.
HALOPHYTE BIOFUELS
Today's biofuels compete with food crops for
land and fresh water. But salt-loving plants
called halophytes don't have this
problem—they can grow in deserts irrigated
with seawater—making them a promising
option for future biofuels.
ECOPARKS
Energy and industrial plants can be coupled
with each other as an ecosystem to minimize
energy, material waste and environmental
footprints. For example, surplus steam from a
power plant can be transferred to another
plant, or used to heat homes.
COULD WE EVER POWER THE WORLD
ON CLEAN ENERGY? YES—AND WE
COULD DO IT BY 2030.
POWERING THE WORLD ON CLEAN
ENERGY ALONE WOULD TAKE JUST
1% OF THE WORLD'S LAND AREA.
5.8
Wind
4.6
Solar
0.5
Hydro
0.7
Other
11.5TW
GLOBAL POWER
DEMAND IN 2030
2.6-4.8°C
0.3°-1.7°C
!
!
!
(terawatts)