Integrated Planning of Net-Zero Power Systems for All

Integrated Planning of Net-Zero Power Systems for All | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Integrated Planning of Net-Zero Power Systems for All Da Zhang, Ziheng Zhu, Hanjie Mao, Runxin Yu, Audun Botterud, Michael Davidson, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7265214/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 May, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Energy → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Achieving global net-zero power systems by mid-century is an unprecedented challenge, demanding integrated frameworks that simultaneously address climate mitigation and energy access equity. Here, we present a spatiotemporal resolved global power-system model (0.25°×0.25°, 8,760 hours, and 3.5 billion parameters), which co-optimizes capacity expansion and operational strategies, to explore viable solutions. Our findings demonstrate that a net-zero global power system meeting universal electricity needs for decent living standards worldwide is technically feasible, enabled by 15–20 TW of variable renewable energy (VRE) installations. Abundant VRE resources offer particularly cost-effective electricity access in low-income regions, such as Africa, promoting climate justice. Land use becomes an increasingly critical factor because deploying VRE, especially solar PV, will require over 9 million hectares of land area. Over 80% of the VRE capacity is located within 200 km of load centers. Demand-side management could offer significant annual system cost reductions by 6.5% (∼ $182 billion). Expanding international transmission and removing trade barriers in renewable technologies could also achieve significant cost reductions by 5.6% (∼ $157 billion) and 12.2% (∼ $345 billion), respectively, underscoring the pivotal role of international collaboration in building inclusive and net-zero power systems. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Energy modelling Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences/Sustainability power system planning renewable energy net-zero just transition Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files GISPOSI.pdf SI Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 May, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Energy → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7265214","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":495392253,"identity":"6877b0c4-22d9-4616-a870-18f608366547","order_by":0,"name":"Da 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