Solar energy remains an energy source that is still little developed and relatively expensive. But its future seems to be assured because of the increases in the prices of energy from fossil sources that can be expected in the coming years. Solar energy is clean, it does not emit greenhouse gases and it does not produce toxic waste. Alone, it will not be able to replace all energy from fossil sources, because of the gigantic surface areas that must be available for its exploitation, but it will nevertheless enable important energy savings to be obtained. Domestic solar energy technologies are efficient and proven. Considerable technical progress is still to be made: university researchers in several countries are competing with ingenious solutions for the development of a “solar house”, depending entirely on the sun for its energy requirements.
Investment in solar energy remains costly. To interest private investors and individuals who would like to equip their homes, solar energy at present needs to be directly or indirectly supported by governments in the developed countries. This is even truer for developing countries. Solar energy seems particularly well adapted for tropical and equatorial countries (countries of the sun!). But there are numerous obstacles:
- Costly investment;
- Requirement for the setting up of an equipment distribution network;
- Relatively fragile equipment;
- Training of local staff in installation, repair and maintenance of the equipment;
- The absence of installations and infrastructure enabling distribution and use of the solar electricity produced.
Numerous obstacles, but none of them insurmountable! As is often the case, availability of the necessary money would suffice, but these countries are entirely dependent on economic aid from the rich countries. That is why the developed countries have responsibility not only for their own energy policy, but also for that of the poor countries of the planet.
Thermal solar energy
Largely carried along by the German, Austrian and Greek markets, thermal solar installations should soon reach a level of 20 million m² of installed
panels
on European roofs. Countries such as Spain and Italy are setting up national programmes to encourage development, following the example of France and Austria. However at a European level, it is the dynamism of Germany that is the key to future development of the sector.
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