A lot of people still haven’t jumped on the renewable energy bandwagon, and that might be okay. Although the technology is definitely coming around, it still has a long way to go–even if it represents a shocking rate of growth and provides a superior number of jobs than coal or oil do. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that within just eleven years, the world will have enough renewable energy to fulfill its needs. Yes, that means even poorer countries will have all the energy they could ever need.
It probably seems like we’re really far away from that reality, but because the advancement of solar energy doubles along with a very set timeframe and shows exponential growth, we’re a lot closer than you think. The real question is whether or not that trend of exponential growth will continue into the near-future. A lot of people think the technology just isn’t there, but Kurzweil thinks these kinds of mathematical solutions to predicting the future tell you what technology will be there–not what technology already is.
It doesn’t take a brainiac to figure out why this is such a big deal.
Imagine the world in which all the energy we’ll ever need is taken in by sunlight during the day. Imagine that untold excess energies are stored in advanced batteries and that we no longer have to rely on coal, oil or natural gas to power and heat our homes or run our automobiles. Not only will the air get a lot cleaner, but our energy bill could arguably become a thing of the past.
One of the catalysts to many wars that are fought are natural resources. All countries need to have them available, and when they aren’t around conflicts break out very quickly. Imagine the world in which these conflicts need never start–a world in which every country can provide its citizens with bountiful energy for a fraction of the cost.
This type of cheap energy is also a boon for other technologies that are costly because of how much energy they suck up. 3D printing is one such technology that is notorious for using up too much power to truly be useful to the average consumer, and it probably won’t seriously break into the mainstream until energy becomes both abundant and cheap. When it does, expect a wave of changes in the way we manufacture and distribute goods all around the world.
These are just a few of the benefits to solar energy, but the list goes on and on.
If that weren’t great enough, solar panels are getting a lot more advanced as well. The Elon Musk-led Solar City recently unveiled solar panels that look just like average roofing tiles. The difference isn’t so easy to see until you learn what they can do–not only do they last a lot longer, but they power your home and help steer you away from the grid. Not too shabby.