With all the negativity in the world, I figured I’d post this rather optimistic article from The Economist.
Basically, solar power is growing exponentially – so far, it has been doubling its capacity every three years, and growing tenfold every decade! At the current rate, it will be the single biggest source of electrical power on the planet by the mid 2030s, and the biggest source of all energy by the 2040s. This is all possible because solar energy has become a much more competitive market and the price of each solar panel has been dramatically reduced.
All of this is indicative that ending our civilization’s reliance on fossil fuels is actually within reach!
However, like with anything else there are still potential pitfalls. The article also discusses how the majority of solar panels are still manufactured in China, giving the country outsized influence over the market. Still, it is preferable to the situation with OPEC, which has repeatedly demonstrated the ability and willingness to rig the price of oil to get their way. In contrast, the CCP might be able to restrict the distribution of solar panels, but they cannot restrict access to sunlight.
There is also the obstacle of a potential Trump presidency. While the Biden administration promotes solar and wind energy development, Trump does not and promotes fossil fuels. Regardless, the article’s author expresses optimism that, should Trump once again ascend the Presidency, his preference for fossil fuels will only be a temporary setback.
Anyway you cut it, the age of solar power is a great thing and welcome news. 10 years ago, Solar Power was dismissed as expensive and unreliable. Today, it looks like it could take over the world. Renewable energy that is not based on fossil fuels and putting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere is the single most critical point in stopping climate change.
With all the negativity in the world, I figured I’d post this rather optimistic article from The Economist.
Basically, solar power is growing exponentially – so far, it has been doubling its capacity every three years, and growing tenfold every decade! At the current rate, it will be the single biggest source of electrical power on the planet by the mid 2030s, and the biggest source of all energy by the 2040s. This is all possible because solar energy has become a much more competitive market and the price of each solar panel has been dramatically reduced.
All of this is indicative that ending our civilization’s reliance on fossil fuels is actually within reach!
However, like with anything else there are still potential pitfalls. The article also discusses how the majority of solar panels are still manufactured in China, giving the country outsized influence over the market. Still, it is preferable to the situation with OPEC, which has repeatedly demonstrated the ability and willingness to rig the price of oil to get their way. In contrast, the CCP might be able to restrict the distribution of solar panels, but they cannot restrict access to sunlight.
There is also the obstacle of a potential Trump presidency. While the Biden administration promotes solar and wind energy development, Trump does not and promotes fossil fuels. Regardless, the article’s author expresses optimism that, should Trump once again ascend the Presidency, his preference for fossil fuels will only be a temporary setback.
Anyway you cut it, the age of solar power is a great thing and welcome news. 10 years ago, Solar Power was dismissed as expensive and unreliable. Today, it looks like it could take over the world. Renewable energy that is not based on fossil fuels and putting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere is the single most critical point in stopping climate change.