2 Square Meters of Sunlight, When Focused, Can Melt a Rock

@NorwegianBlue
Jollyboy does make a good point about storage, but it's not "stealing energy" that otherwise would have been reflected, absorbed by the ground, or a roof, and dissipated.

That energy that is extracted is such a miniscule proportion of all the light falling in a particular area, even one scattered with solar panels, that I would be surprised if it in any way affected the weather or ecosystem. The weather is a powerful force and it would take more than solar panels to significantly affect it.

I saw a talk by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki on whether renewable energy could be used to power Australia/the world, who is qualified to talk about this issue, and he did not even raise "stealing energy" as a concern for the ecosystem.

Save the world, energy efficiency yea yea... light more stuff on fire!!

Jem*

That Gem, he's truly outrageous!

@Vonskippy - rather than sniping lets have your explanation. Especially since you seem to know so much about science. By the way what was your degree? Do tell.