Powering the Future: A Scientist’s Guide to Energy Independence

7. Solar power

Figure 7.1 Solar race car designed and built by students at the University of Minnesota passes by a wind farm near Lake Benton, Minnesota. (DOE photo)

Key facts

• Solar is the fastest-growing energy source.

• It presently provides a tiny fraction of the world’s energy, considerably less than 1%, but if just 1% of Earth’s land area had photoelectric devices, all the world’s current energy needs would be met.

• And in about 20 years the solar energy generated on 1% of Earth’s surface would equal the amount of energy in all known fossil-fuel reserves.

• The same is true for the United States—1% of the land area would provide all ...