Microbes that “eat” electricity may someday provide an efficient
way to store renewable energy. That’s good, because we need
such storage technologies as soon as possible. Technologies that
produce renewable energy are no longer “alternative”—they’re
mainstream and compete financially with fossil fuel producers.
From solar power to biofuels, the fuel economy is rapidly changing
toward more sustainable solutions.Making Way
for Renewables
Assessment available inFossil fuels
78.3%
Total
renewables
19.2%
Nuclear power
2.5%
Modern renewables
10.3%
Traditional biomass
(wood and agricultural fuels)
8.9%
Total world energy
consumption, 2014
Renewable heat
energy from biomass,
geothermal, and
solar technologiesRenewable
power
from wind,
biomass,geothermal,
and solar
technologies4.2%
Hydropower
3.9%
1.4%
Biofuels
0.8%