Achieving the Goal of Solar Power

Advances in technology, growing environmental concerns and fears that conventional fuels are becoming more difficult to source and may run out, are contributing to a steady resurgence in interest in solar power as a mainstream energy source. The USA-based group Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has estimated that all the energy stored in the Earth's reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas could be matched by the energy from 20 days of sunshine.

At present, the major users of solar power are organisations involved in space exploration, such as NASA. It is possible that the solar power technologies developed for space exploration may eventually be adapted for everyday public use and generate the excitement needed to help kick-start the solar energy sector in other areas.

This free report explores the number of ways in which the Sun's energy can be converted to other forms of energy including the success rates. The report also covers the expanding market for solar power in Europe, USA, Japan, China and India.

• The concept of solar power
  • Longstanding interest in solar energy
  • Using energy from the Sun
  • Japan
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Emerging markets: China and India
• Outlook
• References