Studies

The reference solution described in this report shows a path that enables ten billion people to live in freedom between 2050 and 2070 - with adequate prosperity in social balance, an intact environment and a stable climate system. The design of the energy system is of crucial importance for this, as it has a major influence on the success or failure of climate protection and wealth creation.

The guiding idea here is global energy prosperity through innovation and market rather than management of energy scarcity. The reference solution is embedded in the regulatory framework of a global ecological-social market economy with ecological and social guard rails ("green and inclusive economy"). It aims to fully implement the 2030 Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals). The aim must be to find consensual paths into the future that can find a high level of approval worldwide.

The key elements of the reference solution and their interactions are the following: Expansion of renewable energy combined with reliably controllable sources of electricity generation; carbon capture technologies; carbon-neutral fuels and energy sources; elimination of technical methane leakage; nature-based solutions (consistent rainforest protection; reforestation in the tropics; improved humus formation; short-rotation plantations); introduction of a global cap-and-trade system; revision of conditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); compensation of climate protection-induced additional costs through differential cost payments (CfD) of OECD countries; co-financing of (transnational) energy infrastructures; remuneration of system services.

The reference solution relies heavily on consensus and cooperation. It takes into account the main concerns of the different states and in this sense is capable of peace. It shows a way out of the climate crisis, which threatens the entire world and which no country in the world can prevent alone. It also opens up the chance of a world economic miracle that will make all the costs incurred easily bearable. If it is implemented, there is a realistic chance of achieving the formulated climate, energy and prosperity goals in the period from 2050 to 2070.

With the report "Development of a Reference Solution for a Global Climate-Neutral and Prosperity-Creating Energy System", the association Global Energy Solutions e.V. (GES) and the Research Institute for Application-Oriented Knowledge Processing (FAW/n) present the conclusion of the project Global Energy Perspectives, which has been substantially funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 2021.

Prof. Dr. Franz Josef Radermacher, a member of the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Clean Energy Forum, played a key role in the preparation of the report in his capacity as Vice Chair of GES as well as Board Member of FAW/n.