Deployment Prospects for Proposed Sustainable Energy Alternatives in 2020 Available to Purchase

We present brief comparative economic and environmental appraisals of the alternatives that have received the most attention in recent years: conventional biofuels (agrofuels), cellulosic ethanol (CE), microalgae, electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PEHVs), compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, “semi-clean” (SCPC) coal, clean coal, wood co-firing, nuclear, photovoltaic solar (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), geothermal, hydropower, wind, and a novel alternative energy solution known as “WindFuels”. Critical reviews of the projections of both Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and life-cycle CO₂ emissions of these primary alternatives for clean, sustainable energy are presented. We identify and review the major challenges faced by these alternatives — many of which have received incomplete treatment in previous studies. Then from the projected LCOE, carbon neutrality, resource availability, technological challenges, and recent market data; the probable growth rates for the various alternatives are projected, and the environmental benefit and economic burdens associated with these alternatives are assessed.