"If the world economy expands to meet the aspirations of countriesaround the globe, energy demand is likely to increase even if strenuousefforts are made to increase the efficiency of energy use. Given adequatesupport, renewable energy technologies can meet much of the growing demandat prices lower than those usually forecast for conventional energy. Bythe middle of the 21st century, renewable sources of energy could accountfor three-fifths of the world's electricity market and two-fifths of themarket for fuels used directly. Moreover, making a transition to a renewables-intensiveenergy economy would provide environmental and other benefits not measuredin standard economic accounts."

"The integrating theme for all initiatives, should be an energypolicy aimed at promoting sustainable development. It will not be possibleto provide the energy needed to bring a decent standard of living to theworld's poor or to sustain the economic well-being of the industrializedcountries in environmentaly acceptable ways, if the present energy coursecontinues. The path to a sustainable society requires more efficient energyuse and a shift to a variety of renewable energy sources."

T. Johansson, H. Kelly, A. Reddy, R. Williams (ed.):Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity (Based on the reportof the UN solar energy group for environment and development to the UNCEDconference)