Solar to become largest source of electricity generation by 2050

Solar energy could become the largest source of electricity generation by 2050 but only if world leaders set firm, long-term targets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said

The IEA released two reports on 29 September which analysed the potential for ramping up capacity in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as well as solar thermal electricity (STE) generation. The technology roadmap reports said solar PV systems had the potential to generate up to 16% of the world's electricity by 2050. Meanwhile STE, from concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, could provide an extra 11%, resulting in solar power providing almost a third of the world's electricity by that date.   In 2011, renewable energy provided around 20% - 4,482 terawatt hours (TWh) - of total global electricity generation. Hydropower provided almost 80% of this, while solar PV provided 61 TWh, just over 1%.