A senior analyst in the renewable energy division of the International Energy Agency suggested that solar generators may produce the majority of the world’s power within 50 years.
In a recent telephone interview with Bloomberg reporter Ben Sills, Cedric Philibert of the Paris-based IEA explained that according to the agency’s projections, solar generators may produce the majority of the world’s power within 50 years. This would significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions which are currently generated.
By 2060, photovoltaic and solar-thermal plants may meet most of the world’s demand for electricity, and half of all energy needs. Philibert also suggested that wind, hydropower and biomass plants would supply much of the remaining generation in the future.
In his telephone interview on 26th August 2011, Philibert confirmed that “Photovoltaic and concentrated solar power together can become the major source of electricity”. He added that in future “you’ll have a lot more electricity than today but most of it will be produced by solar-electricity technologies”.
These findings will be published in an IEA report later this year. The agency had previously predicted that solar and photovoltaic technology would meet about 21% of the world’s power needs in 2050. These calculations go beyond this, suggesting that future energy solutions will be renewable. Those who choose photovoltaic panels to generate their own electricity will be ahead of this trend innthe market.
In a conference in Kassel, Germany on 1st September 2011, Cedric Philibert is expected to provide more details on the forecasted scenario. He will speak on the topic of moving away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner electric power. He should also detail how these changes will result in carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector falling to about 3 gigatons per year compared with the current rate of approximately 30 gigatons this year.
Earlier this year the International Energy Agency warned that clean energy technologies are being outstripped by a demand for fossil fuels. The coal industry was identified as the culprit and the IEA stated that fossil fuels subsidies should be removed.
In the UK, the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff in April 2010 has increased the uptake of solar and has incentivised homeowners and businesses to install solar PV panels on their roofs. This has helped the UK to move closer to its carbon reduction targets.
EvoEnergy believe that renewable electricity is essential to secure the country’s energy future. With energy prices rising and depleting fossil fuel resources, solar panels can provide a reliable, clean source of electricity. With the Feed-in Tariff guaranteeing payments for 25 years for each unit of electricity that your panel system produces, there has never been a better time to install solar panels. To learn more about the benefits of going solar, please click here.