No image available
/ 31 October 2007

Solar energy boom may help world’s poorest

A surge in investment in solar power is bringing down costs of the alternative energy source, but affordability problems still dog hopes for the 1,6-billion people worldwide without electricity. The sun supplies only a tiny fraction — less than one 10th of 1% — of mankind’s energy needs. But its supporters believe a solar era may be dawning, boosted by Western funding to combat oil ”addiction”.