A transition towards long-term sustainability in global energy systems based on renewable energy resources can mitigate several growing threats to human society simultaneously: greenhouse gas emissions, human-induced climate deviations, and the exceeding of critical planetary boundaries. However, the optimal structure of future systems and potential transition pathways are still open questions. This research describes a global, 100% renewable electricity system, which can be achieved by 2050, and the steps required to enable a realistic transition that prevents societal disruption. Modelling results show that a carbon neutral electricity system can be built in all regions of the world in an economically feasible manner. This radical transformation will require steady but evolutionary changes for the next 35 years, and will lead to sustainable and affordable power supply globally.

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The power sector is faced with strict requirements in reducing harmful emissions and substantially increasing the level of sustainability. Renewable energy (RE) in general and solar photovoltaic (PV) in particular can offer societally beneficial solutions. The LUT energy system transition model is used to simulate a cost-optimised transition pathway towards 100% RE in the power sector by 2050. The model is based on hourly resolution for an entire year, the world structured in 145 regions, high spatial resolution of the input RE resource data, and transition steps of 5-year periods. The global average solar PV electricity generation contribution is found to be about 69% in 2050, the highest ever reported. Detailed energy transition results are presented for representative countries in the world, namely, Poland, Britain and Ireland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The global average energy system levelised cost of electricity gradually declines from 70 €/MWh in 2015 to 52 €/MWh in 2050 throughout the transition period, while deep decarbonisation of more than 95% around 2040, referenced to 2015, would be possible.The targets of the Paris Agreement can be well achieved in the power sector, while increasing societal welfare, given strong policy leadership.

Power losses in transmission and distribution grids could be estimated  Metrics for all countries of the world including economical, geographical and technical parameters  Global power losses tend to decrease in the time  Projection of power losses in grids for all countries till 2050 depending on set assumptions

Accordingly to the COP21 Paris Agreement a net zero greenhouse gas emission energy system must be built no later than 2050. Such a fast power system transition will be very challenging for the conditions of Northeast Asia, a region with a large and fast growing power demand. Power system transition modelling was performed in order to check the technical feasibility of such a transition. The results of the simulation show that the transition can be accomplished and a 100% renewable energy system is both technically feasible and economically viable in Northeast Asia with average electricity generation cost of around 55 €/MWh. Solar photovoltaic (PV) will become the major energy source in Northeast Asia with a generation share of more than 70%; wind energy will contribute to 18% of the generation. Decarbonisation of the system can be achieved quite fast: by 2035 CO2eq emissions in the power sector will decrease by 95 and 99% by 2045, respectively.

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