In 1964, Russian astronomer Nikolai Kardashev created a scale aimed at describing the levels of development of civilizations based on the amount of energy they use. This scale includes three main types, where the first type represents a civilization capable of utilizing all available energy resources on its planet, while the second type refers to a civilization that can harness the energy produced by the star it orbits. The third type indicates a civilization that harnesses the energy of the entire galaxy. The current human civilization is classified between the zero and first types, with estimates suggesting that it only benefits from a small portion of the energy of the first type.
Elon Musk drew inspiration from Kardashev’s vision, as he pointed out on the Ex platform the importance of generating all energy from solar rays. The SPC Energy Institute indicates that the solar energy reaching Earth annually can meet human energy needs for up to six thousand years, based on current consumption rates.
However, human use of solar energy remains limited. In 1839, French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered that some materials produce electric current when exposed to light, initiating research into solar energy. Scientists have made significant progress, with Bell Labs announcing in 1954 their success in developing a silicon solar cell capable of converting sunlight into electricity with an efficiency of about six percent.
Over seventy years later, solar energy still accounts for around two and a half percent of total global energy consumption. However, solar cell efficiency has seen significant advancements, with traditional crystalline silicon cell efficiency reaching twenty-seven and a half percent, while the Chinese company Longi announced achieving thirty and a half percent efficiency for silicon and perovskite tandem cells.
Developments in solar cells continue at a rapid pace, and with the emergence of new technologies such as tandem cells, hopes are rising for improving energy efficiency and reducing costs. China dominates the entire global solar energy supply chain, with its solar energy module production capacity surpassing 610 gigawatts in 2023, representing around forty-three percent of total global production.
Statistics show that solar energy accounts for only a small fraction of global consumption, with fossil fuels recording high percentages, with oil at thirty-two percent and coal at twenty-six and a half percent. Artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in accelerating the development of solar energy technologies, analyzing data to improve the efficiency of solar cells and predict solar radiation levels.
As the need for energy grows, artificial intelligence emerges as a vital tool in managing solar energy systems, contributing to reducing waste and improving utilization efficiency. However, operating artificial intelligence systems requires significant energy, highlighting the need for clean energy sources like solar energy.
Given the current environmental challenges, some thinkers believe that developing solar energy is more important than developing artificial intelligence, as it offers environmental benefits despite its costs having decreased by ninety-nine percent over the past decade. The world must pay greater attention to solar energy to avoid environmental disasters and achieve sustainability.
