Dr. Cherry Murray, University of Arizona
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Abstract: There is an enormous need for clean energy technology research and development to enable a global transition to sustainable energy systems. There are economic incentives for nations to invest in research and development to enable lower cost and more efficient systems: from 2015 to 2019, worldwide annual investments in renewable energy infrastructure have averaged about $600B. The build out of renewables over the next decades will need to be vastly larger in order to meet the 2015 Paris goal of reducing the worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases by 30% by 2030. Beyond 2030, new and vastly cost-reduced technologies for energy efficiency and sustainability in all sectors of the global economy will be needed, as well as enhanced renewable technologies, flexible and smart electric grids combined with efficient and low cost energy storage. In order to sustain the Paris goal of an earth temperature rise by 2 or even 1.5 degrees, humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced drastically, to below 100% of current levels by 2050. We will need to deploy technologies that are at all stages of the readiness levels now, as well as move to a circular economy. There are encouraging signs that nations are investing stimulus funds to rebuild economies after COVID-19 with aim of accomplishing these goals for sustainability. I will suggest areas of research, development, demonstration and deployment in which advances are needed in order to meet this grand challenge.