How can we limit the impact of energy consumption on humanity and the environment without compromising economic growth? The use of renewable sources, and solar energy in particular, is considered necessary and possible, even on a large scale. This book discusses the technological and economic aspects of solar energy exploitation and provides an outline of national and EU policies in this area. The text also reviews a selection of development scenarios for this energy source, that will grow more quickly and be much cheaper than is commonly thought.

Pietro Menna is an engineer and heads technology development and demonstration activities in the European Commission's Directorate General for Energy and Transport in Brussels.

Francesco Pauli is a researcher in statistics at the University of Padua and has worked for the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA).