Can we power the world with only clean energy?

Simon Clark March 16, 2025
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Simon Clark

@simonclark

About

My name is Simon and I make videos to improve your climate literacy. In particular I focus on the physical Earth system, and how the atmosphere, climate, and climate change intersects with our lives. Sometimes I even try to be funny. Since completing my PhD in atmospheric physics at the University of Exeter, this has been my full time job. I also stream on Twitch, host the How To Make A Science Video podcast, and wrote a book!

Video Description

Stop trying to make clean fetch happen. Learn how you can be part of the electric dream with Brilliant: https://www.brilliant.org/simonclark Getting to 100% clean energy isn’t going to happen, but not for the reason you might think. And getting most of the way there is going to be easier than it first appears… You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys REFERENCES 1. https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review 2. https://www.ewea.org/wind-energy-basics/faq/ 3. https://ourworldindata.org/energy-substitution-method 4. https://www.energy.gov/fecm/transformative-power-systems 5. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/01/electric-vehicles-use-half-the-energy-of-gas-powered-vehicles/ 6. https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/lighting/ 7. https://ourworldindata.org/energy-substitution-method 8. https://www.iea.org/world/energy-mix#how-is-energy-used-globally 9. https://www.irena.org/Energy-Transition/Technology/Transport 10. https://www.energyinst.org/exploring-energy/topic/heat 11. https://greet.anl.gov/publication-wft2tv3v (PLUS FOOTNOTE) 12. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/01/electric-vehicles-use-half-the-energy-of-gas-powered-vehicles/ 13. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths 14. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/02/14/1068582/everything-you-need-to-know-about-heat-pumps/ 15. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12053-021-09982-9 16. https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/electrification-energy-efficiency 17. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelbarnard/2023/12/05/how-will-climate-action-change-the-face-of-global-shipping/ 18. https://ourworldindata.org/energy-production-consumption 19. https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget/ 20. https://www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-reducing-emissions-87-by-2040-would-help-cut-household-costs-by-1400/ 21. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/global-energy-perspective-2023-power-outlook 22. https://www.mygridgb.co.uk/2030grid/ - --------- II ---------- More about me - https://www.simonoxfphys.com/ My second channel - https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata My book - https://geni.us/firmament Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark - --------- II ---------- Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Some stock footage courtesy of Getty. Edited by Luke Negus. Research assistance by Leonard Neamtu. Can we get all our energy from clean sources? What would it take to power the world with just renewables? How many wind turbines would you need to power the world? Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Dave Teare, Norm Zemke, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, Peter Reid, bitreign33 . Caleb Holtmeyer, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Andy Hartley. Kristopher Sicari, Mercure, j51t, David Stone, Daniel Cooney, Richard Swain, Zr0w3n, Duffman, Claudia Kapp, Cy 'kkm' K'Nelson, Martin, Nick Humphries, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Hannarrrr, Steamrollerman , Andy Parr, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, KJ Xiao, Tschäff Reisberg, Faficzek, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Victor Gordan, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, Tyler Schwartz, John, James Haigh, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, Christopher Mullin, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Knut Nesheim, AYS , Forever Bulking, Crisan Talpes, Pawel Piwek, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Diederik Jekel, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Samat Galimov, Ashley Hauck, Nico Kempe, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, Sam, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Eddy Torres, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Robin Anne McDuff, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Felix Winkler, Christian Weckner, Thomas Charbonnel, Sekhalis, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O'Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Dan Sherman, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Sean Richards, Michael B., Thusto , Lach, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.

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