Special Report Renewable Energy Sources (SRREN)

The Working Group III Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) presents an assessment of the literature on the scientific, technological, environmental, economic and social aspects of the contribution of six renewable energy (RE)sources to the mitigation of climate change. It is intended to provide policy relevant information to governments, intergovernmental processes and other interested parties.

The report consists of 11 chapters, six of them - called the technological chapters - deal with:

- Renewable Energy and Climate Change

- Bioenergy

- Direct Solar Energy

- Geothermal Energy

- Hydropower

- Ocean Energy

- Wind Energy

All of them are considered as renewable energy sources. The report explains how they can be produced. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the renewable energy markets and shows that the deployment of renewable energy has been increasing rapidly in recent years. It also gives an insight into the the historical development of global primary energy supply from renewable energy from 1971 to 2008. The report states that climate change will have impacts on the size and geographic distribution of the technical potential for renewable energy sources, but research into the magnitude of these possible effects is nascent.

(Shares of energy sources in total global primary energy supply in 2008

Moreover, the report shows the different types of electricity, heat, and transport fuels.

Electricity types

- Biomass

- Solar Electricity

- Geothermal Electricity

- Hydropower

- Ocean Electricity

- Wind Electricity

Heat types

- Biomass

- Solar Thermal Heat

- Geothermal Heat

Transport fuel types

- Biofuels

Furthermore, the report reveals the integration of renewable energy resources into present and future energy systems.

Another chapter demonstrates renewable energy and sustainable development.

Historically, economic development has been strongly correlated with increasing energy use and growth of GHG emissions and renewable energy can help decouple that correlation, contributing to sustainable development (SD). In addition to reduced GHG emissions, the reports states that renewable energy technologies can provide other important environmental benefits. Maximizing these benefits depends on the specific technology, management, and site characteristics associated with each renewable energy project.

The end of the report deals with policy, implementation and financing development (SD). Policies have promoted an increase in renewable energy capacity installations by helping to overcome various barriers. The report closes with an advancing knowledge about renewable energy.

The comprehensive report can be downloaded here.


(Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ipcc33/SRREN_FD_SPM_final)