--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The size of the “needed” transition to…" description: "\"“The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is staggering. The world used more than 20,000 terawatt-hours of electricity19 in 2010, and the 160,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg" --- # The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is… ![“The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is staggering. The world used more than 20,000 terawatt-hours of electricity19 in 2010, and the 160,000 installed wind turbines provided only about 350 of those terawatthours,” quote by Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg) > ““The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is staggering. The world used more than 20,000 terawatt-hours of electricity19 in 2010, and the 160,000 installed wind turbines provided only about 350 of those terawatthours,”” [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning to renewable energy is massive; current wind capacity supplies only a tiny fraction of global electricity demand. **In simple terms:** Renewables need massive expansion. Key Takeaway Invest heavily in renewables. Themes energy renewables climate change Mood urgent concerned Type informative environmental When to use this quote - government budgeting - private investment - grid modernization - public advocacy Key Concepts scale infrastructure policy technology Questions to Reflect On - What policies can accelerate renewable adoption? - How to address storage limitations? A Different Perspective Challenges include storage, intermittency, and political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Turbines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turbines/) [Wind turbines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind-turbines/) ## Related quotes > [Hopelessly uneconomic on any substantial scale, since it requires a conventional power back-up for when the wind stops blowing, forests of wind turbines are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lawson/hopelessly-uneconomic-on-any-substantial-scale-since-it-requires-a/) [Nigel Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lawson/) > [“Putting solar photovoltaics into cloudy cities is like putting wind turbines in places where there is little wind!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/putting-solar-photovoltaics-into-cloudy-cities-is-like-putting-wind/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [In many countries, wind turbines pose the single greatest threat to bats after habitat loss and white-nose syndrome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/in-many-countries-wind-turbines-pose-the-single-greatest-threat-to/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [“Wind turbines typically fail in abnormally high wind speeds, as that is when they are most stressed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/wind-turbines-typically-fail-in-abnormally-high-wind-speeds-as-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [We seem to forget that everything that is good for the environment is a job. Solar panels don't put themselves up. Wind turbines don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-seem-to-forget-that-everything-that-is-good-for-the-environment-is/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [You can power the entire U.S. vehicle fleet with 73,000 to 145,000 five-megawatt wind turbines. That would take between one and three square kilometers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-jacobson/you-can-power-the-entire-u-s-vehicle-fleet-with-73-000-to-145-000/) [Mark Z. Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-jacobson/) > [Replacing half of the U.S. ground-transport fuels with hydrogen from wind power by 2050, for example, might require 1,400 gigawatts of advanced wind turbines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/replacing-half-of-the-u-s-ground-transport-fuels-with-hydrogen-from/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [We must not let ourselves be swept off our feet in horror at the danger of nuclear power. Nuclear power is not infinitely dangerous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/we-must-not-let-ourselves-be-swept-off-our-feet-in-horror-at-the/) [David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/) > [Even if you accept the theory of man-made climate change, wind turbines are a rotten way to reduce CO2 emissions, or to improve energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-helmer/even-if-you-accept-the-theory-of-man-made-climate-change-wind/) [Roger Helmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-helmer/) > [Onshore wind turbines are visually a very considerable intrusion on any landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-yeo/onshore-wind-turbines-are-visually-a-very-considerable-intrusion-on/) [Tim Yeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-yeo/) > [ The famous statue of Christ the Redeemer that overlooks Rio de Janeiro is only 130 feet tall. McGuinty's eco-idols \[Wind Turbines\] will be three… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-levant/the-famous-statue-of-christ-the-redeemer-that-overlooks-rio-de/) [Ezra Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-levant/) > [To power the country by building 186,000 fifty-story wind turbines - and running 19,000 miles of new transmission lines - just seems impractical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/to-power-the-country-by-building-186-000-fifty-story-wind-turbines/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [The mountains and moors, the wild uplands, are to be staked out like vampires in the sun, their chests pierced with rows of five-hundred-foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kingsnorth/the-mountains-and-moors-the-wild-uplands-are-to-be-staked-out-like/) [Paul Kingsnorth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kingsnorth/) > [I think we've found a better solution on North Haven and Vinalhaven: Instead of paying increasing expensive electric bills every month, with the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/i-think-we-ve-found-a-better-solution-on-north-haven-and-vinalhaven/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I wouldn't be against them (large wind turbines) if they actually worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/i-wouldn-t-be-against-them-large-wind-turbines-if-they-actually-worked/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) ## More by Steve Goreham > [“Musician and vegetarian Paul McCartney has called on the world to adopt “Meat-Free Monday.”69 The idea is to forego meat at least one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/musician-and-vegetarian-paul-mccartney-has-called-on-the-world-to/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“The next year, British swimmer and ecologist Lewis Gordon Pugh set out from the northern island of Spitzbergen to kayak 1,200 km to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-next-year-british-swimmer-and-ecologist-lewis-gordon-pugh-set-out/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“A massive campaign must be launched to de-develop the United States. De-development means bringing our economic system (especially patterns of consumption) into line with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/a-massive-campaign-must-be-launched-to-de-develop-the-united-states/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“But since the beginning of our new century, global temperatures have been flat to declining, despite the continuing rise in CO2. None of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/but-since-the-beginning-of-our-new-century-global-temperatures-have/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“Marsh and Svensmark postulated that a high level of sunspot activity reduces the level of cosmic rays and therefore reduces the level of low-level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/marsh-and-svensmark-postulated-that-a-high-level-of-sunspot-activity/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“But one must say clearly that we redistribute de facto the world’s wealth by climate policy…One has to free oneself from the illusion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/but-one-must-say-clearly-that-we-redistribute-de-facto-the-world-s-2/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“It is estimated that the EU would need to convert about 70% of its agricultural land to provide 10% of its energy need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/it-is-estimated-that-the-eu-would-need-to-convert-about-70-of-its/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“Because the idea of climate change is so plastic, it can be deployed across many of our human projects and can serve many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/because-the-idea-of-climate-change-is-so-plastic-it-can-be-deployed-2/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) > [“The presenter was incredulous and asked Folland to repeat his statement so that the entire audience could hear, and Folland again said, ‘The data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-presenter-was-incredulous-and-asked-folland-to-repeat-his/) [Steve Goreham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) [Explore all 10 Steve Goreham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is staggering. The world used more than 20,000 terawatt-hours of electricity19 in 2010, and the 160,000 installed wind turbines provided only about 350 of those terawatthours,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Goreham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-renewables-is-staggering-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-renewables-is-staggering-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/steve-goreham-41995_climate_the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-ren_2568442.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The size of the “needed” transition to renewables is staggering. The world used more than 20,000…” — Steve Goreham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Goreham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goreham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The size of the “needed” transition...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-renewables-is-staggering-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goreham/the-size-of-the-needed-transition-to-renewables-is-staggering-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```