Elon Musk claims solar power can meet humanity’s global energy needs

As the shift toward renewable energy accelerates worldwide, tech billionaire Elon Musk believes solar power has the potential to meet the energy demands of all humanity. 

According to the Tesla CEO, a future powered primarily by the sun is not just possible but inevitable, driven by rapid improvements in solar technology and energy storage.

Musk shared this view as part of his recently outlined long-term strategy, reinforcing public comments he made in January 2026. 

He argued that the sheer scale of solar energy makes it uniquely suited to power advanced societies. 

To illustrate the point, Musk suggested that covering roughly a 100-square-mile area with solar panels in sun-rich regions such as Texas or New Mexico, combined with large-scale battery storage, could generate enough electricity to supply the entire United States. 

The country’s average power demand stands at about 460 gigawatts.

Referencing the Kardashev Scale, which ranks civilisations by their energy consumption, Musk said solar energy is the most practical solution for meeting the needs of increasingly power-hungry societies. 

He also pointed to imagery of Earth captured by SpaceX, highlighting the vast and continuous energy provided by the sun.

Musk added that expanding solar and battery storage systems could help address both the climate crisis and the growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence (AI).