According to Princeton University scientists Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow's «wedge» strategy of climate change mitigation — which quantifies as a wedge on a time series graph various sets of efforts to
maintain flat global carbon emissions between now and 2055 — at least two million megawatts of new renewable energy will have to be built in the next 40 years, effectively replacing completely all
existing coal - fired power plants as well as accounting for increases in energy use between now and mid-century.