Solar energy does nothing but grow

The rising cost of fossil fuels, along with the war in Ukraine, has only increased pressure on all countries to increase energy production through solar and wind power. Europe is very clear that it cannot depend on Russian energy supplies, and it is also accelerating the switch to renewable energy.

If we look at a world map provided by the World Bank (see below) we can see that more than half of the world’s population lives between the 35º parallels, which is where there is the greatest amount of sunlight. The redder the color, the more sun you get.

And that means that in those countries the production of solar energy is very adequate, and other countries in latitudes further north and with less sun have abundant wind energy such as in the North Sea area. Especially the off-shore type.

In the case of Europe, it is clear that the southern countries have more sun, and the northern ones more wind, and if the energy systems of the countries were interconnected, they could compensate the energies of one type with those of another. Something that these countries should do as urgently as possible, and put short-term policies aside.

Experts indicate that more than 100 terawatts/hour of alternative energies are needed to decarbonize the world, and recently 2 terawatts have been installed, which tells us that we have achieved 2% of the objective.

And that indicates that we have to double the installed sustainable energy every 4 years until the year 2050, according to the table below:

It seems that the challenge is possible, but we have to commit ourselves to it with dedication and perseverance. And without forgetting complementary technologies that eliminate part of the CO2 that we have already emitted into the atmosphere.

People who indicate that solar energy occupies too much space are mistaken, since barely 1% of the land dedicated to cultivation would be needed to obtain the necessary solar energy, and in addition, it has already been seen that it is possible to combine the generation of solar energy with the cultivation of plants and animals, with which farmers and ranchers can obtain alternative additional economic income.

It is about electrifying our way of living, and doing it sustainably.

Not long ago I read that Australia is the country that generates the most solar energy per person in the world, more than double that of Germany or Spain. And if they continue at that rate, they could have more than 80% of their renewable energy by the year 2030. An example to follow.