Will renewables stop the climate crisis? | DW Documentary

The Tengger Desert in China is the site of a new solar energy project that aims to become one of the world's largest, capable of supplying electricity to over two million homes. This project reflects a global shift towards renewable energy as a more cost-effective solution than fossil fuels. The script also highlights the loading of wind turbine blades at the port of Aalborg, Denmark, for an offshore wind park in the North Sea, emphasizing the beauty and symbolism of these blades as a sign of green energy. The narrative discusses the world's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to combat climate change and the challenges and possibilities associated with this transformation. It introduces Ewa Nielsen, an engineer working on the transition in energy production at Aalborg, and her experiences with the production of increasingly larger rotor blades, which are set to be fully recyclable by 2030.

Denmark is portrayed as a leader in the wind energy sector, with wind power covering over half of the country's energy usage—the highest per capita globally. The Deputy Mayor of Copenhagen, Line Barfod, reflects on the oil crisis in the 70s and how it spurred Denmark to pursue renewable energy sources. Mads Nipper, CEO of Ørsted, emphasizes the importance of global cooperation in sharing green technology innovations. The discussion moves to the potential of offshore wind farms, particularly in the North Sea, which are set to supply half of the EU's population with power. The narrative also touches on the economic benefits of renewable energy, with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) predicting significant growth targets for wind energy by 2030 and 2050.

The script discusses the rapid technological advancements in solar power, highlighting the evolution from the first solar power plants that used thermal heat to the current focus on photovoltaics. It mentions the use of mirrors to focus solar radiation and the melting of minerals like salt for heat storage. The narrative also covers the economic renaissance of concentrated solar plants and the investment opportunities in renewable energies, as analyzed by José Luis Adanero in Madrid. The text explores the prospects for growth in photovoltaics in Spain and the technological advancements leading to smaller, decentralized applications. The potential of the Spanish and North Sea regions to cover much of the EU's energy requirements with optimal utilization of solar and wind power is also discussed.

The narrative explores the global transition to renewable energy, emphasizing the need for international collaboration and the role of research in advancing sustainable energy generation. It highlights the work of Professor Jiang Lin in Berkeley, California, and Tsinghua University in Beijing on the impact of energy generation on climate change. The text discusses how renewable energy is becoming a lower-cost solution than fossil fuels, not just in China but worldwide. The potential of solar and wind energy to enable a full global transition is considered, with a focus on the importance of decreasing costs and increasing efficiency. The script also mentions the construction of large solar parks and the development of high-capacity power lines to deliver electricity to industrial centers and megacities.

The script delves into the importance of materials research in increasing the efficiency of energy production. It discusses the work at Stanford University, where researchers aim to understand how materials can absorb, store, and transmit energy with minimal loss. The text introduces Professor Norbert Holtkamp and the use of the world's largest linear particle accelerator for this research. The narrative also covers the development of new materials and chemicals for batteries and the importance of scalable processes for manufacturing. The need for new materials with higher energy density for electricity storage and higher conversion efficiency is emphasized, with examples of successful international cooperation in achieving record efficiencies in hydrogen generation from water splitting.

The text highlights the necessity of international cooperation in the research and development of new materials for renewable energy. It introduces the concept of materials acceleration platforms, likened to scientific Lego blocks, which are used to construct solutions to specific energy challenges. The narrative discusses the role of artificial intelligence in guiding research discoveries and the importance of input from manufacturers in the design process. The script also explores the research hub in Singapore, where universities collaborate with companies on advanced technologies, with a focus on new semiconductor materials for solar energy conversion. The potential of a mineral called perovskite in increasing solar cell efficiency is discussed, along with the record achieved for a perovskite-based tandem solar cell.

The script introduces the Space Solar Power Project, an ambitious plan to collect solar energy in space where the Earth's atmosphere is not an obstacle and beam it back to Earth. The text discusses the development of ultralight, large-scale solar power generation systems in space and the potential to wirelessly transmit power back to Earth. The narrative covers the successful launch and testing of a prototype self-unfolding solar array in space, which marks a significant step towards the feasibility of future solar farms in space. The text emphasizes the continuous advancements in photovoltaics and the potential of harvesting solar power in space to generate more energy than on Earth, given the constant sunlight in geostationary orbit.

The final paragraph discusses the sense of urgency and the need for an energy revolution, emphasizing the importance of inspiring young people to join STEM professions and renewable energy fields. The text acknowledges the progress made in science and technology and the political will for transformation but also recognizes the long road ahead before green energy powers everything on Earth. The narrative encourages taking action today to work towards a sustainable energy future, understanding that some decisions made now may be reevaluated in the future. The script ends on a note of optimism, encouraging the start of the transition to sustainable energy with the understanding that it is a complex and gradual process.