A bright future for solar electricity!

For those of you as distressed as I am by the unrelenting oil spill in the Gulf Region, there is some positive news on the energy front.  The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced this week its expectation that solar will comprise 25% of all electricity by 2050!

In two reports on Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity released this week during the Mediterranean Solar Plan Conference in Valencia, Spain, IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka underscored the estimation that solar energy could represent as much as 1/4 of global electricity production by 2050.

While 40 years may seem like a long time to wait, the projected jump in solar electricity production is very significant.  Here in the U.S. solar power comprises only 1% of all electricity in 2010.

Solar electricity frees you from electric bills

With the dual pressures of homeland security and global warming adding to the urgency of a renewable energy fix, the idea that solar could comprise 25% of all electricity in just 40 years is very encouraging.

What is better and cleaner than solar power to help us reach energy independence?

Robert Hines, President of Evolution Solar, observes:

“Historically, solar power generation has proven itself and we continue to advocate policies that will support and encourage its use for multiple applications.”

The Solar PV Roadmap demonstrates that that solar technology is reliable and commercially viable and emphasizes that it should be backed up with long-term policy support structures to ensure its implementation across the board.  In fact, PV has the potential to reach grid parity with other electricity generation in a mere 10 years – by 2020!

What do you think about the future of solar power?

Complete Coverage of the Latest Advances In the FieldEnergy experts predict that wholesale electricity prices could easily rise 35 to 65 percent by 2015. Add to this the growing need for energy independence and the need to reduce carbon emissions and it is very clear that the development of low-cost renewable energy, such as solar energy, is essential for our economy and our national security. With the potential for low-cost, renewable energy that can create jobs while reducing (more…)