Similarly to the analysis we have done for solar we are putting the number together for the capacity needed of to replace coal, oil and natural gas with wind as sources for electricity.
We want to jump here directly to a graph comparing the different levels of electricity capacity currently generated from oil, coal, natural gas and the rest (nuclear, hydro etc) with the capacity wind power fields, farms need, the cost of investment needed and the land area used.
Is solar energy capable of providing so much power that to offset the need for use of fossil fuels?
We want to look at the needs of energy of the United States and the world and compare with the practical size installations of solar power stations needed to replace that.
The question of completely replacing all fossil fuel or all other sources of electricity and other energy is much more complex than just looking at the numbers. Probably replacing the other sources in just electricity production is simpler but still in addition to simply adding capacity, changes of large scale are needed in the national grid configuration.
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular in homes and businesses. Solar how to books, websites and workshops are attracting huge audiences. The people interested in solar power are not just die-hard environmentalists. They are homeowners, business people and even government agencies.
Since at least the 1970s, people around the country have been concerned with the future of fossil fuels. These non-renewable resources are used extensively in every one of our daily activities. From eating breakfast to the morning commute to even taking a walk in the woods, fossil fuels have been involved. But because these resources are non-renewable, they will eventually run out.
