In two recent and timely contributions, Dave King and Richard Layard have argued persuasively that to tackle the world's burgeoning problem of climate change, inexhaustible solar power � Sunpower � must be rapidly advanced to the forefront of global research, development and implementation of non-carbon energy sources (1). It is universally recognised that Sunpower is the only renewable resource available to humankind that has enough terrestrial energy potential to satisfy � actually, to exceed � our necessary present and future carbon-free energy (2,3). No other sustainable energy source comes close.However, capturing, converting and ultimately delivering and distributing the sun's power poses formidable challenges from scientific, technological, socio-economic and socio-political perspectives. Notwithstanding, King and Layard note that these are just the sort of coupled , multidisciplinary and � above all else � breathtaking high-level challenges for Sunpower that can only be solved through engaging the best minds in a major international collaboration.Such a global Sunpower initiative will provide the natural, multidisciplinary focus for a major international strategy to bring the full power of our science and intellect to deliver real energy solutions. I will present a personal perspective on the scientific challenges and innovations necessary for a global energy system based on Sunpower as input, and electricity and chemical fuels as outputs. This will help guide strategies to the Sunpower challenge � a challenge truly global in character, implementation and impact.1. D. King and R. Layard, Financial Times, August 2, 2013: The Observer, September 29, 2013.2. N.S. Lewis and D.G. Nocera, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2006 103 15729.3. P.P. Edwards, R.H. Friend, S. Roberto Amendolia and C. Li, Phil. Trans. R Soc.,2013 A371 0130, and articles therein.The support of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology-Oxford Petrochemical Research Centre (KOPRC) is greatly appreciated.

Sunpower: Setting a global challenge

248th National Meeting (2014)

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