Part 5/11:
Kalcanis countered this, pointing out the exponential growth pattern of solar technology—where yearly increases in capacity are often underestimated and tend to accelerate unexpectedly. He emphasized that the position that solar’s growth will inevitably plateau is inconsistent with observed exponential progress, and highlighted the vast potential for solar energy, especially when combined with falling costs of batteries.
Wright acknowledged solar’s role but remained skeptical about its future dominance, asserting that solar could only fulfill a niche role, such as remote power in arid regions like the United Arab Emirates, and that the math doesn’t support a scenario where solar accounts for the majority of energy globally.