I'm certainly no expert on such things but IMO there just might be parts of the world where solar power makes sense *today*.It seems possible to me that sometime in the future (if equipment prices go down) it might make sense in many places but *today*:
1)Parts of Australia.I've been to the Outback and there's lots and lots of open space and lots and *lots* of sunshine there.And being fairly close to the equator helps too.
2)The Arabian Peninsula.I've been there too...and ditto the Outback.If anything,there's even *more* sunshine there.
Solar is taking off in Australia - a lot of people are putting panels on their roofs and generating a lot of their own electricity that way, and selling anything excess back into the grid. Haven’t done it myself (our roof apparently isn’t right for it - faces the wrong direction) but solar certainly has a role to play.
So does wind.
But the technology isn’t there yet to rely on these without the backups of proven technologies - and that’s where South Australia seems to be falling down.
I agree, solar and bat tries work in some places. The fools in Maine VT and NH who try to push solar and wind are fools.