Expert Says Solar Energy Can Meet All World’s Energy Demands
When it really comes down to it, you have to wonder why someone hasn’t come out with this sort of declaration before now. I mean, there’s a giant flaming ball of gas in our skies 50% of the time, and we have the technology to turn it into energy.
So it really comes as no surprise that Daniel Lincot, the chairman of the five-day European Photovoltaic Solar Energy conference held in Valencia which wrapped up this past Friday, has made it known that he believes solar power has the potential to meet the planets entire energy demands.
- » See also: Altus Air Force Base is Flying High on New Green Award
- » Get CleanTechnica by RSS or sign up by email.
“The solar energy resource is enormous, and distributed all over the world, in all countries and also oceans,” said Lincot. “There is thus an enormous resource available from photovoltaics, which can be used everywhere, and can in principle cover all the world energy demand from a renewable, safe and clean source.”
In his spare time not chairing an industry gathering, Lincot is the research director of the Paris-based Institute for Research and Development of Photovoltaic Energy.
Lincot also noted that, at the moment, solar energy has only made a “negligible” contribution to total energy supply. Apparently, for the year 2007, the total surface area covered by photovoltaic solar panels was only 40 square kilometers. Compare this to the fact that a country like France or Germany would need 5,000 square kilometers, and you can see how far behind we really are.
The gathering in Valenica was attended by more than 3,500 experts and 715 sector firms, billing itself as the largest photovoltaic conversion of solar energy conference ever.
More on Photovoltaics at the GO Network
Evaluating the Cleanliness of Solar Photovoltaics Can Be Complicated
Simple Storage of the Sun
Clean Tech Intro: The Solar Family
2 Large Solar Plants Planned in California, Will Each Be 10 Times Bigger Than Largest Now in Service
I knew this 50 years ago!!!!
Solar… a great idea if you don’t mind paying 5 times what you are already paying for electricity. That’s the subsidy for solar projects in Ontario to make them financially viable.
Even if you were prepared to pay that price, what do you do on a cloudy day, rely on wind power?
Wind power works only about 20% of the time and they are subsidised only triple what we pay for electricity.
Solar power electricity; what a great idea! That is, if you don’t mind paying 5 times what you are already paying for electricity. That’s the subsidy for solar projects in Ontario to make them financially viable.
Even if you were prepared to pay that price, what do you do on a cloudy day, rely on wind power? Ha!
Wind power works only about 20% of the time and they are subsidised at a rate of 3 times what we pay for electricity.
Don’t get me wrong, tap wind, tap solar, by all means, and add that to the supply; but solar and wind cannot power our society on a large-scale basis.
Well… unless you don’t mind cooking your dinner on a woodstove and saying goodbye to the economy.
Hello!!! Reality check.
JT
it’s never been a question of “can solar provide the energy?” but one of can it do so at a price people can afford. Unfortunately the “expert” conveniently forgets this.
The truth is once solar gets into high volume sales the price changes; it comes down significantly and it becomes very affordable. But to get to that level we need a base of consumers that are willing to invest in the technology for environmental/economic reasons.
In terms of labour costs for manufacture, if you factor in cheap labour from China, then it becames even more affordable still, however it cost us local jobs.
Even without the cheap labour options that China has, there are domestic incentives. If instead, we choose to have the solar made in the respective country where it is consumed, then, of course, its less affordable, but now it is a job creator! How much money is having a green-job going to save a disgruntled jobless population! Would they rather be unemployed?
Think like Thomas Edison or Henry Ford and we can create an entire industry from this.
Cheers,
Steve
I may have made some assumptions with regard to local vs global economics..but in general I think solar can be very affordable, and I would rather have a solar project subsidized by the government then an non-sustainable oil production project.
Yes, we can end “unemployment” worldwide, along with hunger, deforestation of nations like Haiti, and other rainforest areas, create greater international stability for all nations, as well as end most poverty, ignorance, disease and crime incentives due to lack of abundant self self sufficiency individual and countries, we need soviern based “cheap” energy not exploitive “cheap” labor supported by all people not just to the advantage of the top 1% rich few
National and international generated cheap energy produced independently by each nation for its own people will swing wide the gate of prosperity for all!
Let’s do it!! I would love to know my children can count on a future were people can find jobs and can breathe clean air! Did you know that the average air quality in the United States is 48 out of a possible 100. (based on http://www.bestplaces.net) The air quality of the city I live is 13 out of 100! This is the reason I am looking to move. But most of the country is suffering! Enough!!! We have to start pushing for change.
Toledo, Ohio is a huge leader in solar technology, with more surprises to come, yet Ohio doesn’t have one solar filed or wind turbine farm. The utility companies pay and lobby Ohio govt. to make sure they don’t sprout. Ohio’s new energy bill could change that some, but don’t hold your breath. No alternative solution under the new bill can raise your electric bill except by a tiny tiny bit, on the other hand, PUCO constantly gives the utilities rate increases for the states failed nuclear reactor at Davis Besse, and seemingly unlimited raises to make more dirty coal power. What the hell is wrong with Ohio? King Coal and First Energy own Ohio legislators. Bought and paid for on the cheap.
Although solar energy is greatly efficient, it’s hard to agree that it can meet such high expectations without accompaniment of other equally efficient forms of energy. This should weight out the options for you a little better than i can.
http://www.abetterenergyplan.ca