There are plenty of maps showing how little area is really needed to power the world... here's another way to REALLY drive the point home to 'skeptics'. The 3500sq miles that we use for golf courses in the US could host 1TW of solar PV. On average that >1500TWh/yr. With good tracking and solar exposure that's easily >2000TWh. The US uses ~4000TWh/yr.
So.... we could satisfy ~50% of our electricity needs with solar PV just by devoting as much empty space to solar as we currently do for golf courses.
So.... we could satisfy ~50% of our electricity needs with solar PV just by devoting as much empty space to solar as we currently do for golf courses.