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Concentrated Solar Power Could Generate 25% of the World’s Electricity by 2050
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Pangea on 10/12/2009 22:00:00
 
CSP uses mirror to focus sunlight on water. The reaction creates steam that
turns turbines and generates electricity. Unlike photovoltaic solar panels, CSP
only works in places with reliable sunny weather, such as parts of the southern
U.S., North Africa, Mexico, and India.
Sven Teske, co-author of the study, estimates that current investments in CSP
($2.8 billion) could grow under a moderate scenario to over $11 billion by 2010
and produce 7% of the world’s electricity generating capacity. By 2050,
investments could grow to $93 billion. This all assumes, of course, that
political and investment barriers are removed in short order. But even in a
modest scenario, CSP could grow to 830GW of installed capacity by 2050,
providing 12% of the world’s power needs. Combined with geothermal and wind
farms, alternative energies could provide a significant portion of our overall
energy needs in the next few decades.