How Renewable Energy
Will Change Geopolitics
An assessment by Stratfor Worldview
Scholten also argues that the global transition to renewable energy will put electricity center stage since renewable energy overwhelmingly takes that form in supply and in usage. To reduce costs and to prevent shortages in the event of a still or overcast day, countries will probably opt to integrate their electricity grids regionally. As a result, today's globalized energy world will gradually become more regionally focused, though global trade will continue.
Winners and Losers |
While states like Saudi Arabia will harness their abundant sunshine to become major solar power producers, this status won't confer the same geopolitical prominence that they enjoyed in the oil-dominated world of the past century. |
Finally, trade will continue to be a source of conflict among states. The growing market for renewables will give rise to more battles over issues such as intellectual property theft, dumping and domestic content requirements. These disputes could undermine the global trading regime if they become heated enough.
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Along with the changes it will cause to the geopolitical order, the rise of renewable energy may well change the face of war
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