Solar should be viewed as a a complimentary fuel source

Sun comes into its own as power generation sector looks for viable alternatives to fossil fuels, but it's often underestimated

Given technological advances, rapidly changing economics, as well as potential new applications, solar looks increasingly competitive in the future energy landscape. Solar’s potential is underestimated and not well understood, says Bernard Clement, who heads French major Total’s new energy division. He told Petroleum Economist that the competitiveness of solar is such that it can be deployed worldwide. But rather than a competitor to oil and gas, it should be viewed as a complimentary fuel source. It is an intriguing possibility, given the earth receives solar radiation 10,000 times the world’s annual energy needs. Grid parity – when electricity generation is competitive with grid-electricit