This paper examines the development and future of research on fully renewable energy systems, arguing that a global transition to 100% renewable energy is both technically feasible and economically viable.
Emerging from the 1970s energy crises, the field has rapidly expanded, with most studies concluding that solar and wind power will form the backbone of future energy systems, supported by storage technologies and efficiency improvements.
The authors emphasize the importance of system-wide integration, including electrification, energy storage, and sector coupling (linking electricity with transport and industry).
They also highlight challenges such as grid reliability, institutional resistance, and the need for carbon removal technologies. Overall, the paper presents a comprehensive, systems-level vision for transitioning away from fossil fuels toward a sustainable, low-cost energy future.
Conclusion
Putting everything together, the paper argues that the transition to a 100% renewable energy system is no longer a theoretical idea—it is a well-supported, increasingly detailed scientific framework. Hundreds of studies, growing at a rapid rate, consistently show that systems built on solar, wind, storage, and electrification can meet global energy demand reliably and at low cost.
The main challenges are not technological but structural: redesigning entire energy systems, overcoming institutional resistance, and integrating solutions like storage and carbon removal.
→ In simple terms, the question is no longer “Can we do it?” but rather “Why aren’t we doing it faster?”