Hi Frederick, this is where our understanding of the topic branches into two different (opposite) directions. After studying solar photovoltaics as a technology, reading many publications on its mineral resource requirements and manufacturability, I came to the conclusion that it is very unlikely that we can produce solar panels without fossil fuels. Once the later will be gone, solar electricity alone won't be enough to produce the heat and stable currents required to replace old panels (let alone expand the system). If we were to add power storage to overcome this issue, the overall energy investment in creating, maintaining, recycling and rebuilding this whole setup would be greater than the free energy produced. Solar electricity seems to be cheap and efficient only because it is subsidised by fossil fuels in every single step of its lifecycle.