Solar Panels Can Save the Planet

Online, July 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - In December 2009 Denmark hosted the 15th United Nations Climate Conference. The goal of the conference was to reach a legally binding agreement that would assure that the planets temperature would not increase by more than two degrees. That did not happen. Instead The Copenhagen Accord was drafted. This was a huge fiasco, one that will certainly not keep the increase in temperature below two degrees.
Thus, having been failed by politicians the world now looks to scientists for the solution. Since a political solution can not be found, we can only hope that science can develop sustainable energy to a level that will be able to cover the energy need of all countries.
One kind of sustainable energy is solar energy. Perhaps the most debated project at the moment when it comes to solar energy is the plan to establish so-called sun farms in Sahara. If 0,3 percent of Sahara was to be covered with solar panels the energy derived from these panels could supply the whole of Europe with electricity. Furthermore, at the same time enough water could be desalted to cover the needs of EU, North Africa, and the Middle East.
There are however some problems. One problem is transporting the electricity from North Africa to Europe. This would entail the European electricity system being rebuild, costing around 45 billion Euro. But, it is doable. Another problem is the political problems arising from Europe being dependant of electricity from North Africa.
The mere fact that the project is being considered in spite of the political implications and the huge amount of money it would take to realize the project, is proof that solar panels are considered as a serious solution to the world's climate problems.
China, in spite of being heavily criticized for not doing enough for the climate is actually one of the countries who spend the most resources researching and developing viable solar panels. This is in part reflected by the huge amount of Chinese manufacturers producing solar panels. So, perhaps solar panels will end up saving the planet.