Policy Punchline

Last October, the IEA declared that solar power is “the new King of Electricity.” But as it currently produces only 2% of the global electricity, the newly crowned energy royalty has a long way to go before it will reach full dominance. In Taming the Sun, Dr. Varun Sivaram outlines the financial, technological, and systemic innovations that could allow solar power to provide a third of our energy in thirty years and truly claim the mantle of “Electricity King.” Dr. Sivaram began our discussion by outlining the transformations in solar power that will make it the world’s primary energy source. He hopes that financial markets will make more capital available to fund both small-scale and large-scale solar projects. Solar technology itself also must make a qualitative leap, as incremental improvements in efficiency are replaced by entirely new ways of “taming the Sun.” Perhaps most importantly, energy systems must be revolutionized so solar energy can power transportation, manufacturing, and electric g