As fossil fuel based energy prices reach record-highs and the sever environmental effects of processing that fuel are becoming increasingly dangerous, alternative energy resources must be harnessed to continue supplying the huge demand for energy in an environmentally friendly and economic way.

There are several alternative energy sources which are already used to supply energy to millions of people. These energy sources include wind, Geo-thermal sources and solar, amongst others.

Solar Energy Characteristics: Energy derived from the sun has several significant characteristics which makes it the most promising energy source of the future. These characteristics include:

Clean energy -converting this type of energy to electricity does not emit any greenhouse gases and does not produce any waste.

Renewable - sun-derived energy supply is endless.

Free - it is available for free. Anyone can install a solar panel on their rooftops and start tapping into that endless energy resources.

Globally available - each and every one of the 7 Billions of people who live on the face of the earth 'own' a certain amount of this energy. Some people live in places where this energy is available in very large amounts, usually in areas closer to the equator, while others, living closer to the north and south polls have much less exposure to sun.

The unique characteristics of solar energy, especially the fact that it is globally available, a Global Energy Grid can be created.

Global Solar Grid

The Solar Grid will be made of 2 components:

Solar panels mounted on rooftops of people all over the world. These solar panels will capture energy from the sun and will be connected to the Grid lines, 'uploading' energy into that Grid.

Grid lines, which are likely to be fiber optic cables, who will transfer the energy uploaded by the solar panels throughout the grid.

People who live in areas where sunlight is available in large amounts will be able to 'upload' their excessive captured energy to the grid. These energy will then be 'download' by other people or companies connected to the grid, who have higher energy requirements.

The Grid will always have energy available to supply to energy consumers, because people who live in different timezones can 'upload' energy to the Grid when it's daytime where they live, while it's nighttime in other places in the world.

You can think of the Global Energy Grid as an Internet of energy, where some people upload their energy and others download that energy to 'fuel' their electric car, light their house or offices or power their T.V.

The technology required to make the Grid a reality is right around the corner - solar panels are already very common in many areas of the world and they will become cheaper and more effective in the near future. Technology to transfer the sun-derived energy on a global scale already exists-current optical fiber technology already transfers Infrared light over thousands of miles without any lose of energy. Another quantum leap in optical technology can make the Solar Grid vision a reality.