Hilarious. Someone down-voted my comment without reading the paper. Because, if you actually read it, it would be impossible to down-vote a conclusion clearly backed by data and research presented by the authors in the paper.

This research came out of Google. What I find admirable is that the researchers went into this to prove that renewable energy sources were the solution to our problems. In fact, they went in convinced they were correct in having reached this conclusion prior to doing the research. Instead, they discovered they were wrong. And they went ahead and said so.

These days, when science and politics are so intertwined, the latter polluting the former, it is refreshing to see such honesty. That's what science is about: Verifiable, reproducible, evidence-based conclusions, not religion or politics.

Bravo Google Research for doing this work and publishing a conclusion that was diametrically opposite your own assumptions.

EDIT:

This down vote also demonstrates my point: This issue has become a religion (on all sides). Facts and science don't matter any more. People believe what they believe and simply refuse to consider they might just be wrong. Which happens to be the case for nearly EVERYONE who thinks they know the subject. If you think you do, see my first post and answer my questions.