Penultimately it will have to if we turn into a mega spacefaring race encompassing large portions of the galaxy. I know that there is a lot to be gained from high energy physics. Conventional power used on too large of a scale in the future will end up disrupting the energy flow. Even solar panels need a lot of space to be deployed.

Well - yes. Panels need a lot of space - no matter if it is thermal or voltaic ones. A good option is to put them on houses obvioulsy. We can do it and it is possibly the best option at this time - at the same time we need to reduce energy use by beeing more efficient with it. And it would help to not let the population growth go on as this will only increase energy consumption.

For the future, I think, fusion holds some prospects, but it will not be ready for decades and mayn possible problems may pop up until then (regarding radioactivity, effects of reactor failures releasing Tritium, disposal of chemically complex construction materials etc). Using Quantum mechanics to gain energy - as I said I have not read any theory on this except for science fiction. If it is possible, it will only be available once we have far surpassed the point on which we have to solve our energy needs for Earth in another way. One thing I have come to know recently is, that almost all westerners are very much hung in the notion that the present is only a temporary state on the path to a better future. We think like this all the time, ignoring that the present is the only time we actually consciously experience. So we should make decisions in a way, that also lets us experience a happy present and not only a hopeful future. To hope for future developments with the expectation that it will make things better is a fals lure for humans - we believe in these things and people have suffered for years or a life, constantly in the hope that a better future is right around the corner. This is not the way to be. We need to make the present as much of an enjoyable place as the future we dream of.

Yes, I think we would be largely ignoring the third world though, the economics under capitalism just don't add up if your going to be paying to put solar pannels all over Africa. The first world though, problem solved.

Up to now, solar is one of the few renewable energy sources that are present in large enough quantities to supply the need. Wind is ok, but not enough, water is already used to the max in some regions, biofuels from specially grown plants are IMHO not something that has to be discussed, geothermal energy is something still to be looked at though.

So if a country has to cover 3% of its land with solar power plants, it may sound low, but obviously it is quite an area - but this figure would be true also for yet developing countries, so I would not worry about lack of space, but rather on the steady increase in energy consumption. That has to be halted or reversed as well as the exploding population.

Oh and no argument from me on the criticism on capitalism ;) and I fear that what would be suggested is to once more put the burden of production, in this case of energy, to less developed countries. However, I am confident, that industrialized countries would not want to outsource their energy production if it is avoidable for security risks...