Picture yourself relaxing on the beach with the sun shining, the breeze blowing, and the ocean crashing in the sand. These beautiful powers of nature are more than just relaxing scenery for scientists that have worked for centuries to capture and utilize their energy; but can these forces really meet ALL of mankind’s energy needs? Two California professors seem to think this dream could become a reality by 2030, and here’s how…

• 3.8 million wind turbines, 5 MW each, supplying 50% of the projected total global power demand
• 49,000 solar thermal power plants, 300 MW each, supplying 20%
• 40,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants supplying 14%
• 1.7 billion rooftop PV systems, 3 kilowatts each, supplying 6%
• 5350 geothermal power plants, 100 MW each, supplying 4%
• 900 hydroelectric power plants, 1300 MW each (70% are already in place) supplying 4%
• 720,000 ocean-wave devices, 0.75 MW each, supplying 1%
• 490,000 tidal turbines, 1 MW each, supplying 1%

Obviously this is a lofty technological feat but so was the idea of landing a man on the moon. Perhaps this is the Apollo mission of our time.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/wind-water-and-solar-power-for-the-world/0