Research to develop efficient and cost-effective wind, solar and geothermal energy platforms will feature prominently in our science portfolio in the next 20 years. Scientists will perfect efficient small-scale wind and solar capture, storage, transmission and distribution technologies that will make it feasible for homeowners to own home-based wind and solar energy generating units.
But as scientists realize that nature-based technologies require understanding of people’s wants and needs, their quest for sustainability, basic scientific and engineering research will draw more on the social, policy, ecological, environmental and place sciences in order for research outcomes to be socially, economically and environmentally attractive. Mankind will seek and society will produce science that yields sustainability outcomes, not only in the area of renewable energy, but in food, health, education, housing aviation, transportation and even banking.