Solar is surging, but so is humanity’s energy appetite. We need better models.

I’m very interested to see how countries like Pakistan can lead the way in the clean energy revolution out of a necessity for cheap electricity rather than a desire for clean power.

Their electric grid and economy is such that they can optimize around solar rather than trying to force solar to fit into their existing system. Necessity is the mother of invention, and places like Pakistan will probably be able to teach us all a thing or two about how to develop economies around the Sun.

  • Optional
    14•25 days ago

    The pattern is that Western energy forecasters are continually surprised by how much energy people in developing countries will consume. As countries like Pakistan grow wealthier, their people are going to demand the same energy-dependent conveniences that people in wealthy countries already do — and our energy forecasts must reflect that reality or we’re going to keep getting it wrong.

    That seems like whoever’s doing the number crunching is an idiot.

    • @[email protected]
      8•25 days ago

      Yeah, don’t get this idea that everyone else will be somehow better than the western world if given the chance. People are people no matter where we live. We are about equally lazy on average and the ability to pay for power is down to circumstances.