In the past, many civilisations worshipped the Sun. For the ancient Egyptians it was Ra, creator of humanity. Ancient Indians called the Sun Surya, the all-seeing god who expels darkness and disease.¹

Future archaeologists might think the modern world also worshipped the Sun, when they find rows and rows of vast black panels all directed at our local star.

Last year, manufacturers passed an important milestone when they worked out how to make solar panel cells that can convert more than 30% of the sunlight they receive into electricity.²

Now the world is seeing a solar panel boom. In the EUEuropean Union. An economic and political union of 27 countries. alone the solar sector is growing by 40% a year.³

In CaliforniaA large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848., since early March, solar panels alone have produced more electricity than the entire state actually needs.⁴

Why does this matter? In many ways the history of humanity is a history of our relationship with energy. We were able to evolve such big brains because we harnessed the power of fire to cook our food, making it more palatable, so we could hunt less and concentrate on more cerebralOf or relating to the brain or the intellect. activities.⁵

Then in the 18th Century we discovered coal. Coal is a much more efficient source of energy than wood. This, historians say, is what fuelled the Industrial RevolutionA period of sudden, rapid industrialisation that transforms a country from an agricultural to an industrial economy..

But it was too good to be true. We now know that the more fossil fuels we use, the worse the climate crisis gets.

Renewable energy, on the other hand, means we can continue to enjoy some of the benefits of industrialisation without destroying the planet.

And it is good for our health. Burning coal, oil and gas causes air pollution which, as well as contributing to the climate crisis, also contributes to lung and heart diseases.⁶

In contrast, solar panels and wind turbines do not cause any pollution.

Is cheap energy the solution to everything?

Yes: Cheap energy brought us the Industrial Revolution. Now, in clean form, it will bring us a new revolution in our everyday lives, making us richer, healthier, and happier.

No: Replacing fossil fuels with clean energy will only persuade us we can keep our wasteful lifestyles regardless of the environmental damage they cause. We must consume less, not more.

Or... Cheap energy can improve our lives, but to get its full benefits we need not only to produce lots of energy but also to electrify the entire economy, which will be expensive and take a lot of time.