Fossil fuel extraction can use drilling and mining techniques that leave land undesirable for other uses after the energy source has been removed. Furthermore, PV panels can be integrated into building surfaces for the production of power, eliminating additional land use. For example, the 100,000 square foot roof of a typical discount retailer could produce more than a megawatt of solar electricity. Solar energy systems need less space to produce a megawatt of electricity than coal fired power when the land devoted to mining is factored in. No land is required when solar systems are integrated into buildings.
Solar energy is a renewable resource .
Some scientists and industry experts estimate that renewable energy sources, such as solar, can supply up to half of the world's energy demand in the next 50 years, even as energy needs continue to grow. To avoid an energy crisis, we need to begin shifting our energy reliance away from our finite supply of fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources such as solar. Enough sunlight reaches the earth's surface every year to produce approximately 1,000 times the amount of energy produced by burning all fossil fuels mined and extracted during the same time period. If this energy is effectively captured, it could meet human energy needs indefinitely. In summary, solar energy is a smart energy choice.