Stretching over roughly nine million square kilometers and with sands reaching temperatures of up to 80° Celsius, the Sahara Desert receives about 22 million terawatt hours of energy from the Sun every year. That's well over 100 times more energy than humanity consumes annually. So, could covering the desert with solar panels solve our energy problems? Dan Kwartler digs into the possibility. [Directed by Christoph Sarow, AIM Creative Studios, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by André Aires].

Dan Kwartler: Why don't we cover the desert with solar panels?

Why don't we cover the desert with solar panels?

Harnessing the Sahara's vast solar potential could dwarf global energy consumption, yet challenges loom large in realizing this.

Innovations in solar technology and falling costs spotlight solar power as the cheapest electricity source, reshaping our energy landscape.

Expanding solar farms in deserts offers a bright spot for energy access, but environmental and technical hurdles underscore the complexity.