The Future of Solar Energy

Energy problems will be a huge issue this century and solar will play a big part of the solution. So, just what is the future of solar energy?

The 20th century was one in which society advanced in leaps and bounds. This was true both as a people and technology. Technologically, we had the industrial revolution though the current digital version. We went from riding horses to the beach to surfing the web. Fossil fuels are derided these days, but there is zero chance that any of this would have happened without them.


As we finish the first ten percent of the 21st century, it is clear that fossil fuels cannot make it another 100 years. Peak oil is a hotly debated subject, but even the most optimistic individuals expect it to peak before 2050. Natural gas and coal look plentiful at this point, but the pollution and greenhouse gas problems cause us to be hesitant when developing them. The big movement now as you well know is to look for clean, renewable energy sources. Can clean energy work? Of course. Look at Las Vegas. It is primarily powered by hydropower at the Hoover dam.

What about the future of solar energy. Well, it is very bright pun intended. Solar energy is a tremendous platform because it can work anywhere and produces no waste. If it is so great, why isn’t it our major energy platform? Well, there in lays the problem as well as a glimpse into the future of solar energy. The problem is solar is not particularly efficient. We convert only five to 18 percent of the energy that hits the panel into energy. The future of solar energy will be about increasing this percentage dramatically.



There is enough energy in the sunlight that hits the earth in a 24 hour period to supply us with all the energy we could need in a year. The problem is harnessing it. Research is focused on fixing this. We are already seeing developments in the area of thin solar film and solar shingles. The big area of potential is in nano solar particles. If they can be worked out, then our energy problems are over. Why? Well, you could put solar nano particles into paint, plastic and whatever. This would effectively turn everything into a solar panel…the paint on your home…the paint on your car…the shingles on your roof…the roads…parking lots. The list is nearly endless.

Solar energy has successfully bloomed to the point that it is now an accepted part of the energy solution moving forward. If nano research is successful, the future of solar energy will be one without limit.

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