In the Alternative Policy Scenario (APS) the IEA assumes policies to be implemented which are already under consideration in the national energy policy pipelines. This would reduce primary energy demand in 2030 by 10.9% and electricity generation by 11.7% . It would also cut (in comparison to the reference case) fossil fuel consumption by 26% (coal) and  12-13% (oil and gas), and boost the input of renewables across the board, as well as nuclear energy. In the APS, renewables attain a share of 17% in primary energy. If instead of the IEA energy conversion methodology the so-called partial substitution accounting methodology was applied, renewables share would account for over 21%. In the APS, the WEO predicts a share of renewable energy in electricity generation of 29% by 2030, up from 18% in 2005. Renewables overtake gas to become the second largest sources of electricity after coal. Renewables account for 43% of incremental power generation between 2005 and 2030. In transport, global biofuel consumption increases from 19-164 Mtoe. This number is up from 102 Mtoe in the RS.

Like in 2006, IEA again qualifies the projection of the Energy Outlook as unsustainable. In an attempt to identify what changes would be required to bring energy related CO₂ emissions down to 23 Giga tons, the WEO 2007 brings a new scenario, called the 450 Stabilization Case. The large emission savings would come mainly from improved efficiency, the switch in electricity generation to renewables (more than 40%), nuclear and coal carbon-capture-and-sequestration (CCS), , and the doubling of biofuel use to 330 Mtoe, mainly expected from lignicellulosic feedstock.

In the WEO 2006, IEA had offered a brief discussion of "beyond alternative policies scenario" (BAS) which would be necessary to reduce CO₂ emissions. The results of the 450 Stabilization Scenario are more specific than the results of the 2006 BAS, and renewables' contribution is higher.

In an exercise requested by the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UNFCCC Secretariat carried out an analysis of existing and potential investment and financial flows for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In the mitigation scenario, built upon the Beyond Alternative Policy Scenario of IEA's WEO 2006, investment in renewable energy power generation in 2030 is higher than in any other generation technology, including coal and its CCS.

In Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP), the IEA explores the possibilities to restructure energy demand and supply in a way that the CO₂ emissions return to their current level by 2050. The IEA finds that this is technologically and economically feasible. While the IEA points to energy efficiency as a top priority, the role of renewables is considered significant. In the ETPs TECH-plus Scenario, the share of renewables accounts for more than 35% of electricity generation in 2050, up from 18% today. This can, according to IEA, only be implemented in a stable policy environment that promotes low-carbon options.

In January 2007, Greenpeace, in cooperation with the European Wind Energy Council (EREC) launched energy (r)evolution, a global energy scenario to 2050. Designed as a practical blueprint, this backcasting exercise explores the possibility to cover the growing energy demand without using nuclear energy or CCS and yet reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% as required in order to limit climate change. The resulting scenario, distinguishing 10 world regions,  is considered feasible. Much higher energy efficiency is the prerequisite for an energy supply structure which is dominated by renewable energies. In addition to the global scenario, Greenpeace and EREC also publish national and regional scenarios.

In July 2007, Greenpeace and EREC delivered futu(r)e investment, an estimate of the investment requirements to implement their global energy scenario, maintaining that requirements for this scenrio would be significantly lower than in the business as usual fossil fuel and nuclear scenario.

In May 2007, WWF published its vision for 2050 Climate Solutions. It concludes that "the technologies and sustainable energy resources known or available today are sufficient" to meet "the more than doubling of global energy demand projected by 2050, while avoiding dangerous climatic change of more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels", and that "there is still sufficient time to build up and deploy them, but only if the necessary decisions are made in the next five years". A key part of the solution are low-emissions technologies: "The rapid and parallel pursuit of the full range of technologies, such as wind, hydro, solar PV & thermal, and bio-energy is crucial, but within a set of environmental and social constraints to ensure their sustainability. By 2050, these technologies could meet 70% of the remaining demand after efficiencies have been applied, avoiding a further 10.2Gt carbon emissions annually."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has prepared its 4th Assessment Report (4AR), and launched it step by step during 2007, after receiving final comments from governments for each part. Among other objectives, the 4AR explores scenarios for keeping green house gas (GHG) emissions stable in order to achieve the lowest possible atmospheric CO₂ concentration levels in the Working Group III. Its report Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change was published in May 2007. It contains energy policy recommendations and highlights options to prevent some of the worst effects of climate change. Renewable energy is considered a very important part of the solution. Its share (including large hydro and biomass) in global primary energy is projected to be between 8% and 17% possibly increasing to above 61% in 2100. Renewables are expected to provide up to 35% of electricity generated in 2030. Feed-in tariffs and renewable energy obligations are emphasised as policy instruments that have proven effective.

The World Bank's Clean Energy and Development: Towards an Investment Framework (CEDIF) is also a forward-looking exercise, but takes a look at the investments needs for a sustainable future. The CEDIF distinguishes three critical pillars: Energy for development (in particular energy access for the poor), the transition to a low-carbon economy, and adaptation to climate change. Comparing the financial requirements and potential sources, it identifies a gap to financing the transition to a low-carbon economy. This CEDIF is currently being discussed with the World Bank's member countries. In the CEDIF, renewable energy technologies are seen as important options for the transition to a low-carbon economy, although the CEDIF seems to be more focused on high-efficient and low-carbon supply technology and power plant rehabilitation, as the continuous use of coal in large economies is the most worrisome. Within the proposed strategies for energy development and access, some renewable energy technologies, such as solar home systems, are given a specific role, and clean energy is strongly recommended altogether. On the whole, the CEDIF is not particularly aggressive in promoting renewable energy.