Could the Sun provide enough electricity to power the entire world?

Solar energy has vastly increased in popularity as an energy source for homes and businesses, thanks to its clean and sustainable source. More and more people are choosing to invest in solar energy, reducing their reliance on the grid and helping to reduce their environmental effect. In an ideal world everything would be powered by solar energy; every home, business, car, factory, phone and computer on Earth would run using clean energy harnessed from the Sun. Although this sounds too good to be true, it’s not! The reality is that the Sun provides Earth with more energy in a few hours than we would need to power everything on Earth for a whole year!

But here’s the catch: that energy isn’t being harnessed to its full potential! Sunlight can only be used to create solar power through using solar panels. If we were able to harness all the energy that the Sun provides Earth, we would have vastly more energy than we could ever use or need!

Would we need to cover the planet in solar panels?

You may imagine that to power the entire world using the sun would require covering the majority of the planet in solar panels. Thankfully this isn’t true! Most homes can produce all the solar energy they need with a solar panel system and a solar storage battery. In fact, some houses can even produce more energy than they need, which they can sell back to the grid. This energy can then be utilised by homes or businesses that don’t have solar panels. Not only does this help homes generate money, but it can also allow others to utilise clean solar energy. So, you can imagine how much solar energy could be harnessed if solar panels were fitted on the roof of every home or building. Now, the exact amount of energy that would need to be produced would depend on the area and the technology used. However, combining domestic and commercial roof panels with large solar farms and ensuring that we utilise solar energy storage batteries, we could completely remove our dependency on non-renewable energy sources. The exact number of solar panels we would need can only be estimated, but we know that the more homes and businesses that choose to invest in solar energy, the more we reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources. This means that every person who chooses to install a solar power system is actively contributing to environmental conservation and can save money on their utilities in the process.

What about times or places where there is less Sun?

One of the most commonly asked questions is how relying on solar energy would work during the night or in places that aren’t sunny. Well, thankfully solar panels can still generate energy during the day, even if it is cloudy; however, they do generate less than they would on a sunny day. This is where solar storage plays its part. Solar batteries can store excess energy created through the panels to be used during times when the solar panels are producing less than normal. This also means that countries that enjoy a lot of Sun can produce, store and distribute mass amounts of solar energy. To drastically reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources, humanity would have to work together toward a common goal to produce, store and distribute solar energy to everyone.

What is the reality of powering the world with solar energy?

The reality is that theoretically it is possible, but it is a long way off. However, this doesn’t mean that the future would rely completely on solar energy; other resources such as wind, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy will all likely still play their part. Realistically a more reasonable approach would include utilising a mixture of renewable energy resources and ensure that humanity is working toward the same common goal. Solar energy is just one piece of our sustainability puzzle, but with the help of homes and businesses that choose to invest in solar panels, it can become a very significant piece. Batteries and other storage technologies can help balance supply and demand, making solar energy more accessible worldwide. As a world, we should be looking to the future and the bigger picture; however, it is the small changes we make today that provide the foundation for larger-scale changes.

How can I make a change for the better?

As one of 8.3 billion people, you may think that your personal actions are insignificant, but the choices you make do make a difference. We all need to stop thinking of ourselves as individuals and view ourselves as part of a united community. If each person makes even a small change, the effect accumulates and grows bigger than you can ever imagine.

Simply investing in solar panels for your home or business makes a massive difference in our dependency on non-renewable energy and our environmental conservation. Why not contact us at Solar Quotation today to find out how easy it is to do your part and save money on your utilities at the same time?