Renewable energy could become a dominant source of fuel for the transport industry by 2050, a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA has shown.
Global transportation plays a crucial role in the world’s economy, advancing the movement of people and goods across the globe.
In its Reaching Zero with Renewables Report obtained by The Energy Intelligence, the group said the transport industry’s current dependence on fossil fuels makes it one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions, delivering 8 Gigatons in 2017, 25 per cent of greenhouse gases diffused globally.
With the right combination of energy-focused investment, technologies and policy frameworks, renewable energy will account for up to 48EJ of the 86 EJ transport demand projected for 2050.
This means the transport sector will experience an increase in the share of renewable energy from three per cent in 2017 to 56 per cent in 2050.
As it is expected that the demand for transport services will increase, it is imperative that renewable energy sources are deliberately and consistently advocated for as a clean fix in decarbonizing the transport ecosystem.
Biofuels have proved efficient as capable alternatives to fossils fuels.
Although there are often various biofuels products with different characteristics, research has shown remarkable progress in their compatibility either as drop-in fuels or blended forms, with various engines manufactured for transport.
Large-scale engine manufacturers are also beginning to adapt engines and as well as novel engines for newer blends of sustainable biofuels.
Biofuels have already found commercial success in some markets, however their limited availability, lack of investment and high cost of production present some barriers to its feasibility.
Nevertheless, the evolution of these fuels will reveal a big drop in CO2 emissions in comparison to conventional fuels.