Will Solar Save Us?

The promise of solar power is nothing new. The first solar cell was created in the late 1800s using selenium and was subsequently re-invented in the 1950s using silicon. It seems ever since we began using solar cells to power satellites since 1958, the vast potential of using solar energy on a mass scale has remained largely unfulfilled. However, if a recent scientific panel's conclusions are correct - that is about to change.

He predicted the fall of the Soviet Union. He predicted the explosive spread of the Internet and wireless access.

Now futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil is part of distinguished panel of engineers that says solar power will scale up to produce all the energy needs of Earth's people in 20 years.

Regardless of any one technology, members of the panel are "confident that we are not that far away from a tipping point where energy from solar will be [economically] competitive with fossil fuels," Kurzweil said, adding that it could happen within five years. ... "We also see an exponential progression in the use of solar energy," he said. "It is doubling now every two years. Doubling every two years means multiplying by 1,000 in 20 years. At that rate we'll meet 100 percent of our energy needs in 20 years."

Betting against Ray Kurzweil has proven to be a bad idea, so lets hope that he is right about his solar prognostications.

Whether Kurzweil is right or wrong, there is no denying that the experimentation and use of solar power is on the rise. For example, construction has now begun on the first solar plane that will attempt to fly around the world. It will be piloted by one person, and make 3-4 stops over 15 days to change pilots. The first test flight is expected to take place in early 2009. The airline industry has pledged to fly with zero carbon emissions within 50 years and they've pinned their hopes to solar in an effort to achieve that. While I seriously doubt the airline industry will be exclusively solar in 5 decades time, funding projects like the world's first solar plane can't be a bad move.

via [livescience]

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Will Solar Save Us?

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