A leading New Zealand researcher believes solar energy will be the preferred choice of the average electricity consumer by the middle of the century. Harnessing energy from the sun and turning it into electricity has never been more efficient – nor cheaper.
The world is embracing solar energy on a massive scale – with the latest figures showing that in 2014 photovoltaics (or PV, the method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity) are supplying 178 gigawatts of energy.
The International Energy Agency predicts that by 2050, solar PV will provide about 16 percent of global electricity, as manufacturer are scaling up, bringing prices down.
Justin Hodgkiss is a senior lecturer in Physical Chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington, and a Rutherford Discovery Fellow.
He is investigating how to capture solar energy into ultra thin materials for electricity generation and told Nine to Noon price was the biggest factor in people’s willingness to go down the solar track.
He said the rate at which PV had been taken up was growing exponentially.
