We do not need to replace all of the inputs shown on the left. We only need to replace the “Energy Services” shown on the right. Direct production of electricity by wind, solar, and geothermal resources is not subject to the inefficiencies of fossil fuel extraction, leakage, transport, and combustion.

Hydrogen is an answer but only for energy-intensive mobile and industrial applications, e.g. trains, trucking, and cement production. Using green hydrogen (generated with renewables) for residential heating would require almost six times as much renewable electricity as heating homes directly with renewable electricity and heat pumps.