Following up on my previous post, available at the link above, where I discussed an interesting article by two researchers from the University of Cambridge, I would like to highlight another study conducted by researchers from universities in Germany and Switzerland. This study investigates the potential for energy self-sufficiency in 41 million homes across Europe and concludes that 53% of these homes could achieve this using photovoltaic panels and battery storage systems. Furthermore, the article estimates that by 2050, approximately 2 million homes could fully disconnect from the electrical grid. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2542435123004026
Paradoxically, these scenarios may not be as ambitious as they initially appear. A home that disconnects from the grid and becomes energy self-sufficient does not necessarily yield substantial benefits, particularly when considering not only the financial costs but, more critically, the urgent need for the decarbonization of the building sector. Decarbonization extends beyond energy production to include the materials used in construction—an essential factor that is often neglected. Unfortunately, this oversight is shared by several individuals, even those with significant academic credentials, as I have previously critiqued https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/03/addressing-euronews-oversight-essential.html
PS - It is essential to emphasize that the recent Draghi report highlights decarbonization as a pivotal element in bolstering EU competitiveness https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/09/recalling-my-past-clash-with-german-mp.html
