Prospects and Scope for Solar Energy

Abstract

This chapter presents the prospects and scope for solar energy. The extraordinary social developments of the 20th century have been possible because of the general availability of convenient, inexpensive energy in the form of oil and gas. As the century draws to a close, political leaders everywhere are concerned with the transition to some other energy source as the foundation of economic and social life. The possible energy sources, other than oil and gas, are few, such as coal, nuclear fission, geothermal, solar, including wind and wave nuclear fusion. Coal, like oil and gas, is a fossil fuel derived from the sun over geological time. It has a critical role to play in the transition years, and it will be a continuing feedstock for hydrogen and synthetic hydrocarbons, but it cannot be considered a primary, long-term energy source. The present-day fission reactors do not offer a long-term solution; for the long term, it is necessary to develop breeder reactors and/or nuclear fusion. The breeder is plagued by security problems and the need for long-term storage of radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion has yet to be tamed. Nevertheless, most industrialized countries find themselves obliged to press on with the development of nuclear energy as the remaining energy source, the sun, cannot be harnessed with the current technology so as to meet economically their projected energy demands.