In the longer term, with sufficient investments in space infrastructure, space solar power can be built from materials from space. The full environmental benefits of space solar power derive from doing most of the work outside of Earth's biosphere. With materials extraction from the Moon or near-Earth asteroids, and space-based manufacture of components, space solar power would have essentially zero terrestrial environmental impact. Only the energy receivers need be built on Earth.

Those estimates on efficiency only take into account Japan, EU. More efficient machines and cars would be used by the whole world to cut down our energy needs.

I think this new energy source is second to the race to develop an actual "mini-star" within a fusion reactor:

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/CDBEAE9E-9563-4E34-9117-3FFD74F812BF/

I guess it will depend on which one is cheaper, solar from way above or solar within.

Yes, fusion is certainly an interesting challenge, if we think of a future a bit further from our sun....

Wireless power transmission? Go Tesla!

From what I understand transmitting the power is a stumbling block they haven't gotten over yet.