The International Energy Agency (IEA) was yesterday the source of an encouraging finding for the solar industry, courtesy of Paolo Frankl, the head of the agency’s renewable energy division.
Speaking at a solar photovoltaic (PV) summit in Italy, Frankl declared that PV electricity generating capacity could reach 3,000 gigawatts of power in 2050, enough to meet approximately 11 percent of the world’s energy needs. The new estimate — which was cited previously by Dr. Peter Taylor, head of IEA’s technology policy division, during a conference in March — is nearly double the agency’s previous estimates.
Frankl did not provide many details. But the IEA is expected to release a full PV development report on May 11. Meantime, check out the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2010 to learn about energy development in the more immediate future.
Of course solar PV could meet 11 percent of global electricity demand by 2050. The pertinent question is will it? Tell us what you think. Is the IEA being overly optimistic? Or are its estimates in the ballpark?
