A "Hellishly Difficult" Challenge

Some argue that most countries can supply their current energy requirements using only

renewable sources. Others disagree. 

But that is probably not the right question. The bigger questions are whether future energy consumption requirements can be met, using renewable sources, and whether the historic correlation between energy consumption and economic development can be broken. 

What is not so clear--and will require both lots of human ingenuity and some technology development--is whether most nations can improve living standardsf or their people while at the same time reducing carbon and other footprints.

It is likely to be hellishly difficult. Some will argue we do not need “growth.” Others will argue that is an immoral position, where it comes to most people of the developing world. 

source: Anthropocene

As Dennis Anderson argues in the UN Development Program’s Energy and Economic Prosperity, modern, abundant energy can improve living standards of billions of people, especially in the developing world, who lack access to services or whose consumption levels are far below those in industrialized countries.

But that means energy production and consumption levels far above what we now experience. 

"No country has been able to raise per capita incomes from low levels without increasing its commercial energy use," said Anderson.  

source: United Nations

The issue is whether that correlation can change, allowing development at lower levels of energy consumption. That is where the ingenuity and technology development will be required.