Solar Thermal Energy has Potential
A solar thermal power plant built on about 1 per cent of the surface of the Sahara Desert would be sufficient to satisfy the entire world’s electricity demand.
Solar energy arrives on the earth at a maximum power density of about 1 kilowatt per square meter. However, solar “productivity” is limited by certain geographical factors, including cloud cover and atmospheric humidity. In sunny, arid locations, one square kilometer of land can generate as much as 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year using solar thermal technology, enough power for 50,000 households.
