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Thursday, May 21st, 2015

Solar panels can power the world – MIT study

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Publication Date:     May 20, 2015 16:38
 Link: Solar panels can power the world – MIT study
Stephan:   Here is the truth about solar: The only thing blocking the transition out of the carbon age is investment not technology. No further technological advance needs occur, although many will. We have the ability to do this right now. It is a question of will and intent. The human species, expressed through national policy can condemn itself to what unremediated climate change deals us, or we can change the trend. It is about as stark a choice as one sees. I found this on a Russian website. RT seems to be the only publication covering the MIT report, which I think is very telling.
A solar installation of the type described in this article. Credit: Reuters / Jorge Cabrera

A solar installation of the type described in this article.
Credit: Reuters / Jorge Cabrera

An MIT report has found that regular solar panels like the ones used today could supply much of the world with power. They believe terawatts of energy could be produced by 2050 and say that investment, not technology, could be the biggest hurdle. (emphasis added)

The world’s population currently consumes 15 terawatts of power from various energy sources, according to the Economist. Despite making up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans use 26 percent of the world’s power.

The publication, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shows that no revolution in solar energy needs to take place, as scientists already have everything they need to harness the energy of the sun and turn it into electricity, though minor tweaks may help to improve efficiency.

The US, for example, generates less than 1 percent of its energy from solar power. This is something the researchers […]

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