I mentioned in an earlier article that I believe that solar energy generation is the most likely logical (and reasonable) future to our global energy management.
Now that panel plants are increasing their capacity (doubling of production facilities by 2010) and (starting to) catch up with demand, prices for solar panels are expected to drop by 20% over the next couple of years.
While some governments are planning to of phase out subsidies for private home solar installations over the next five years, the momentum reached by the industry seems all the same to gather pace and will make solar energy a viable alternative (even in the less sunny climates), for at least part of our energy needs over the next 10-15 years, before going mainstream.
If you think that that is a long time, consider the fact that for millions of years, the only source of heat was wood and animal dung, that the use of coal really took off only in the first half of the 19th century (it was known since antiquity). The same applies to oil: It has also been used since the oldest recorded times, but really took off only the in the second half of the 19th century).
In development terms, that was yesterday. The exponential change curve for energy (like for most other technical developments) is still in its flat stages.
Have you got one of these solar bags yet?
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