Power for the World: A Global Photovoltaic Action Plan∗

It is proposed to initiate a global action in an effort to supply electricity to the more than 1 billion people without electricity today. A very well distributed and decentralised electricity system of very low capacity for minimum basic needs is the only realistic system which could be implemented in a foreseeable lime frame of 20 to 25 years, a conventional electric grid development being too costly and time consuming to cope with the problem. The preferred technical option is photovoltaic because of its inherent characteristics of being an omnipresent resource, being modular and available in either a small or large scale and being perfectly reliable without any moving parts. In order to meet basic electricity needs in the villages of the Third World an installed power of 10 WPV per capita is sufficient. Globally 10 GW PV for the poorest who make up 20% of the World's population would represent no more than half a percent of the power we, the other 80%, consume today. The cost of the project will be less than 1% of global military expenses.