How Important is Solar Energy?
Garry Baverstock
Co-Founder & Director, solar-e.com
Email: g.baverstock@solar-e.com
Since 1969 I have recognized that the use of solar energy is the ecological salvation for planet earth.
In the 1960’s it became obvious to most scientists involved in energy science and engineering that fossil fuel sources had limited life in the long term. In spite of the growing awareness of pollution of cities, politicians and oil companies at the time had scant regard of the pleas of eminent scientists. Even though the “Greenhouse Effect” was known since 1958, most governments in the world were just too concerned about maintaining their economic position at the time to act. 
The warnings now have much greater credence with a growing proportion of the world’s population. This has resulted in a rise of use of solar energy. Of course all forms of energy are related or derived from solar energy. However, it is the applications that avoid releasing CO2 into the atmosphere or lock up CO2 in the process (such as bio-mass) that have relevance for the 21st Century.
solar-e.com has been formulated to assist in this critical technological and social change, which simply must become mainstream. If not, the current changes in the earth’s climate will be insignificant to the catastrophes and human misery that lay ahead if substantial changes do not occur soon!
Apart from the environmental benefit of the “Big Switch” to solar energy, there will be socio-economic benefits, yet not fully appreciated by most scientists, the business community and most governments. It is time for a greater focus, and delivery of real, not perceived, outcomes.
In 2001, the photovoltaic industry was growing at a rate of 30% p.a., which shows the “solar energy age” has well and truly started. Most people always recognized that solar energy was the energy source of the future. Although the last 30 years of the twentieth century can be seen as an evolutionary process, the speed of development has been slow in relation to the growth of production of greenhouse gases.
Communication, networking, education, dissemination of ideas and information, can help to quicken the pace of development of all forms of solar energy, not only increasing use in the developed world, but ensure the developing world does not make the same errors of judgement in the past and leapfrog the outdated 19th Century forms of energy generation.
I believe this process will take about 50 years, but this early part of the 21st century is the most critical time in human evolution and survival of planet earth’s ecology and environment, as we know it. The equilibrium of greenhouse gases must be restored as soon as possible. If 25% of all energy sources were to be provided by solar and renewable sources and pollution from commuter traffic significantly reduced, the danger of catastrophic effects could be averted. This target must be met by all countries within the next twenty years. Ask the Gurus!
solar-e.com is here to facilitate the process and put genuine seekers of the truth of what is happening and what can be done with those who can deliver the outcomes. We see the large fossil fuel producers as important strategic partners as this important step of evolution occurs.
It is going to take remarkable cooperation and collaboration but it can be done. It must!
IMAGE:
Name- Celestia sun
Source- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Celestia_sun.jpg
Image has been released into the public domain