Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA

Water availability is unlikely to be a limiting factor for STE/CSP as dry cooling options for
steam plants are well-known and fully mature.
In sum, the total of on-ground structures for CSP and PV could be 415 000 km 2 or more (solar
fuel generation is not included in these numbers). These are large numbers – 1/360 of all emerged
lands. This figure is slightly lower than an independent estimate of the total surface area needed
to power the entire world economy by 2030 from solar (Figure 11.8). The availability of land will
be a challenge in very densely populated countries, but not on a global scale.
Direct, non-electric energy uses
Besides electricity generation, solar energy can help meet other energy needs: heat and fuel
for transport. Direct solar heat could take a share of water and space heating, as well as
providing heat to industry and services. Heat pumps would transfer ambient energy, whose
origins are solar and geothermal energies, into buildings and some industries. Solar fuels,
besides a role in electricity generation, could also provide some heat in buildings and
industry; enhance the energy content of biofuels for transport, industry and other uses; and
possibly provide some hydrogen for direct uses in various transport systems.
Source: landartgenerator.
Figure 11.8 500 000 km 2 of hypothetical on-ground solar plants
496 805 km 2 Chapter 11: Testing the limits
Key point
Large-scale deployment of solar energy does not raise global concerns for land use.
How could this translate in numbers? Of the total 140 000 TWh of final energy demand,
50 000 TWh would be direct, non-electric uses of energy, i.e. heat in buildings and industry,
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