Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets
Abstract Limiting global warming below 1.5 or 2 °C calls for achieving energy systems with net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions likely by 2040 or 2070, but the pledged actions under current policies cannot meet these targets. Few studies have optimized global deployment of photovoltaic and wind p...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57292-w |
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| author | Yijing Wang Rong Wang Katsumasa Tanaka Philippe Ciais Josep Penuelas Yves Balkanski Jordi Sardans Didier Hauglustaine Junji Cao Jianmin Chen Lin Wang Xu Tang Renhe Zhang |
| author_facet | Yijing Wang Rong Wang Katsumasa Tanaka Philippe Ciais Josep Penuelas Yves Balkanski Jordi Sardans Didier Hauglustaine Junji Cao Jianmin Chen Lin Wang Xu Tang Renhe Zhang |
| author_sort | Yijing Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Limiting global warming below 1.5 or 2 °C calls for achieving energy systems with net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions likely by 2040 or 2070, but the pledged actions under current policies cannot meet these targets. Few studies have optimized global deployment of photovoltaic and wind power. Here we present a strategy involving construction of 22,821 photovoltaic, onshore-wind, and offshore-wind plants in 192 countries worldwide to minimize the levelized cost of electricity. We identify a large potential of cost reduction by combining coordination of energy storage and power transmission, dynamics of learning, trade of minerals, and development of supply chains. Our optimization increases the capacity of photovoltaic and wind power, accompanied by a reduction in the average cost of abatement from US Dollars ($) 140 (baseline) to $33 per tonne CO2. Our study provides a global roadmap for achieving energy systems with net-zero CO2 emissions, emphasizing the physical, financial, and socioeconomic challenges forward. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-546ccce298c14fefbe311b8624b2c00c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-546ccce298c14fefbe311b8624b2c00c2025-08-20T02:47:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111910.1038/s41467-025-57292-wGlobal spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targetsYijing Wang0Rong Wang1Katsumasa Tanaka2Philippe Ciais3Josep Penuelas4Yves Balkanski5Jordi Sardans6Didier Hauglustaine7Junji Cao8Jianmin Chen9Lin Wang10Xu Tang11Renhe Zhang12Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP³), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP³), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan UniversityLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, IPSL, Université Paris-SaclayLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, IPSL, Université Paris-SaclayCSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, BellaterraLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, IPSL, Université Paris-SaclayCSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, BellaterraLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, IPSL, Université Paris-SaclayInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP³), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP³), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan UniversityIRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversityIRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversityAbstract Limiting global warming below 1.5 or 2 °C calls for achieving energy systems with net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions likely by 2040 or 2070, but the pledged actions under current policies cannot meet these targets. Few studies have optimized global deployment of photovoltaic and wind power. Here we present a strategy involving construction of 22,821 photovoltaic, onshore-wind, and offshore-wind plants in 192 countries worldwide to minimize the levelized cost of electricity. We identify a large potential of cost reduction by combining coordination of energy storage and power transmission, dynamics of learning, trade of minerals, and development of supply chains. Our optimization increases the capacity of photovoltaic and wind power, accompanied by a reduction in the average cost of abatement from US Dollars ($) 140 (baseline) to $33 per tonne CO2. Our study provides a global roadmap for achieving energy systems with net-zero CO2 emissions, emphasizing the physical, financial, and socioeconomic challenges forward.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57292-w |
| spellingShingle | Yijing Wang Rong Wang Katsumasa Tanaka Philippe Ciais Josep Penuelas Yves Balkanski Jordi Sardans Didier Hauglustaine Junji Cao Jianmin Chen Lin Wang Xu Tang Renhe Zhang Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets Nature Communications |
| title | Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets |
| title_full | Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets |
| title_fullStr | Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets |
| title_short | Global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the Paris Agreement targets |
| title_sort | global spatiotemporal optimization of photovoltaic and wind power to achieve the paris agreement targets |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57292-w |
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