Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA
Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA
Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA
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Foreword<br />
Foreword<br />
<strong>Solar</strong> energy technologies have witnessed false starts, such as the early boom of solar water<br />
heaters in California a century ago, and the renewed interest that followed the first and second<br />
oil shocks. Will they now fulfil their promise to deliver affordable, abundant, inexhaustible<br />
and clean energy? Which solar technologies are really close to competitiveness, in which<br />
circumstances and for which uses? What kind of policy support do they require and for how<br />
long? What are the costs, who will bear them? What are the benefits, and who will reap them?<br />
The rapid evolution of these technologies makes policy answers to those questions unusually<br />
difficult. Up to now, only a limited number of countries have been supporting most of the<br />
effort to drive solar energy technologies to competitiveness. Concerns about costs have also<br />
sometimes led to abrupt policy revisions. Policies may lapse or lose momentum just a few<br />
years before they would have succeeded.<br />
This timely publication is the first in-depth <strong>IEA</strong> technology study focusing on renewable<br />
technologies. It offers relevant information, accurate data and sound analyses to policy<br />
makers, industry stakeholders, and the wider public. It builds upon the <strong>IEA</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> Technology<br />
<strong>Perspectives</strong> in considering end-use sectors and the ever-growing role of electricity. It also<br />
builds on many <strong>IEA</strong> Technology Roadmaps in elaborating an integrated approach to various<br />
solar energy technologies. It shows how they could combine to respond to our energy needs<br />
in providing electricity, heat and fuels.<br />
This publication also investigates ways to make support policies more effective and costeffective.<br />
It suggests that comprehensive and fine-tuned policies supporting a large portfolio of<br />
solar energy technologies could be extended to most sunny regions of the world, where most of<br />
the growth of population and economy is taking place. If this were the case, solar energy could<br />
well become a competitive energy source in many applications within the next twenty years.<br />
In the penultimate chapter, this publication departs from usual <strong>IEA</strong> work and complements<br />
our least-cost modelling exercises by depicting a world in which solar energy reaches its very<br />
fullest potential by the second part of this century. A number of assumptions are made to see<br />
what might be possible in terms of solar deployment, while keeping affordability in sight.<br />
Under these assumptions, solar energy has immense potential and could emerge as a major<br />
source of energy, in particular if energy-related carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced to<br />
quite low levels and if other low-carbon technology options cannot deliver on large scale.<br />
While this outcome is hypothetical, it does suggest that current efforts are warranted to enrich<br />
the portfolio of clean and sustainable energy options for the future.<br />
Maria van der Hoeven<br />
Executive Director<br />
This publication has been produced under the authority of the Executive Director of the<br />
International <strong>Energy</strong> Agency. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or<br />
policies of individual <strong>IEA</strong> member countries.<br />
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© OECD/<strong>IEA</strong>, 2011