VISION – A WORLD RUN BY SUN

Eicke Weber Lays Out Bold Vision For Global Solar Energy Future
Laura DiMugno, 13 July 2011 (Solar Industry)

"…Eicke Weber, director of [Germany’s] Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems…detailed his vision for a worldwide, interconnected energy system powered entirely by renewable energy, especially solar power…A smaller-scale version of the initiative is already in the planning stages. Called DESERTEC, this energy-transport system aims to provide a sustained supply of renewable energy by connecting North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with a super grid of high-voltage direct-current cables.

"According to Weber, such ambitious renewable energy goals will not be achieved by maintaining the status quo…Germany has already begun this transition by completely moving away from nuclear power - a decision made in the wake of the Fukishima disaster…Eight of the nation’s nuclear reactors were shut down immediately following the Japanese tragedy, and nine reactors will be phased out more gradually and be replaced with renewable energy."

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"Solar will certainly play a large role in the worldwide transition away from nuclear power and fossil fuels. Major cost reductions in photovoltaics…have already led to exponential increases in solar deployment… [T]\he worldwide PV market will reach 30 GW by 2014 and could potentially represent 100 GW by 2020…[L]arge-scale solar farms…[and] decentralized solar will be vital…

"There also needs to be an effort to align solar supply with demand. Currently… supply is [largely] concentrated in China, while the demand primarily comes from Europe…Asian countries [must deploy] solar…[and there should be more] manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America, Weber said…PV [could] represent 10% to 40% of the worldwide energy market, but achieving this goal will…[require] research, innovation and the right market…"