A new report released on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit here today, shows that even if all electricity is to be generated through renewable energy (RE) sources, and with solar photovoltaics (PV) alone,  it would  take up only an insignificant amount of total land area, contrary to common perception.

The report, Solar PV Atlas: solar power in harmony with nature, shows through seven cases-six countries and  one region-less than 1 percent of the total land mass would be required to meet 100 percent of projected electricity demand in 2050, if  generating electricity only with solar PV .

WWF teamed up with First Solar, 3TIER and Fresh Generation to develop the report. It looks at Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, and the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The regions represent diverse geographies, demographics, natural environments, economies and political structures. They receive different but good average levels of sunshine, and all show vast potential for widespread development of solar PV, a well-established, commercially available and reliable technology today.

The report illustrates that PV technology, when well planned, does not conflict with conservation goals and clarifies that no country or region must choose between solar PV and space for humans and nature.

"Research has found that PV power plants provide considerable environmental benefits, including a low carbon footprint and a short energy pay-back time.  Replacing existing grid electricity with PV arrays significantly reduces greenhouse gas and heavy metal emissions as well water usage," says Lettemieke Mulder, First Solar Vice President for Sustainability. 

 This new report supports WWF's vision of 100% RE by 2050. "We are actively promoting investments and measures in Renewable Energy technologies that help to make this happen," according to Jean-Philippe Denruyter, WWF's Manager Global Renewable Energy Policy.

"As climate change increasingly threatens people and the natural world, it is more important than ever to work for the rapid and wide-scale adoption of well sited, responsibly operated renewable energy power facilities. Environmental protection and renewable energy can and are developing in parallel," says Samantha Smith, leader of the WWF's Global Climate & Energy Initiative.