IMAGINE living in an era of rampant innovation where renewable power provides potentially endless energy for everyone on Earth at levels of demand higher than those today. Imagine solar photovoltaic (PV) cells so efficient that they could provide all the nation's electricity demand even in a cloudy place like the UK. Fanciful?
Not according to two of the world's most powerful oil companies. Scenario planners at Shell have calculated that renewable energy holds the potential to power a future world of 10 billion people with ease. In Shell's scenarios, solar energy dominates the mix, and small wonder, because over at BP experts have calculated that even in the cloudy, electricity-profligate UK, covering all suitable roofs with solar PV of existing efficiency would provide more electricity than the country presently uses.
PV cells are becoming more efficient all the time. You could store the energy they provide in advanced batteries, or ...
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