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What would it take to power the entire planet by solar?
It’s worth considering that this is the estimate when using solar panels alone. Other methods, such as solar towers, would drastically decrease the amount of needed area.
It may also be worth considering that some cities — like the one I live in, for instance — are within 40 miles of 16 different coal-burning power plants. How saturated would we really like our environment to become with exhaust fumes from incinerated fossil fuels?
Then again, I guess since the sun is due to burn out in a few billion years, it’s probably not worth it.
What do you think? Even if we’ve got the space, is solar worth the effort? 
Jason Wire
Jason Wire graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and spent the year after writing and teaching English in Spain. He's back in the states now, but doesn't know where. Follow him @wirejr.
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NICE…Thanks for this! Now if countries could just work together…..
It appears to be such an easy solution…..yet there is no one with the clout to make it happen…..
It’s a huge idea to think about, but again, we’re talking about powering the entire world. On a completely emission-free system.
Now if only someone could come up with a cost estimation for this, and leverage it out between countries based on ratio of electricity usage.
As an power engineer, I can say this analysis way oversimplifies reality. Without considering storage (we use power at night too!) and transmission, it is really meaningless exercise.
Alternative energy sources… Why not give it a try?