Possible Material Outcomes of Solar Power Revolution

TL;DR

The paper discusses the transformative potential of the Solar Power Revolution to vastly increase energy production, enabling technological advances, economic growth, and higher living standards, potentially supporting a civilization of 50 billion people.

Contribution

It explores the material and technological outcomes of a large-scale solar energy deployment, highlighting its role in advancing civilization towards Kardashev 1 and 2 levels.

Findings

Solar power could increase global energy production by 160 times.

Electric energy can enable extraction of hydrocarbons and chemicals from unconventional sources.

The revolution could support a civilization of 50 billion with high living standards.

Abstract

Energy production plays a primary role in industrial capacity and thus material standard of living of any civilization. The Industrial Revolution was engendered by a vast growth of motive energy production. Solar Power Revolution has the potential of increasing global energy production by a factor of 160 and engendering a new technological revolution in industry, food production and transportation. Electric energy can be used for vast expansion of industry. Electric energy can be used to extract vast amount of hydrocarbon motor fuel and chemicals from unconventional oil resources and coal. It can also be used to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuel, chemicals, and animal feed from water and carbon dioxide. Electric energy can be used to connect the World by a network of rapid transit, such as Magnetic Levitation Trains (MagLev). The Solar Power Revolution will enable Earth to sustain a population of 50 billion at material living standards much higher than corresponding standards in USA 2020. Global civilization which harvests the maximum possible fraction of solar energy falling on Earth is called Kardashev 1 Civilization. It is also the stepping stone toward the Final Frontier of Humankind -- Kardashev 2 Civilization, which has colonized the Solar System.