Is solar power a good alternative?

[TheLastOne36]

not sure about that, we have much less area sure, but we have a huge population. Doesn't matter anyway, it would have to be roughly the same size, or scattered in bits and pieces.

 

[suiraclaw]

Keep in mind sun power is "evolving" extremely fast. If sunpower isn't realistic now, it might very well become in a few years when it became even more effecient.

 

[Leonel]

Yes, that's it. I think it's more efficient than the other kind of solar panels.

I like that kind better too. Plus the power stations that already have steam turbines don't need to be completely torn down but just refitted with them. Plus you could store the hot water in a thermos style container.

 

[Mirc]

Question, where in Europe can we put such a solar panel the size of Macedonia? Perhaps we can put it on Sardinia or something, or maybe we might have to put it in North Africa? (i'd rather not have one of the north african countries controlling our power though...)

Russia? (they have too little resources, we need to help them ) Ukraine? I don't know.

 

[Leonel]

Question, where in Europe can we put such a solar panel the size of Macedonia?

... Macedonia?

 

[civ_king]

And you can use wind power to help supply energy at night along with stored solar energy

 

[civ_king]

On your roofs?

 

[Frank327]

Russia? (they have too little resources, we need to help them ) Ukraine? I don't know.

The simple answer is everywhere. On rooftops, unused space near highways, maybe even on water. There's lots of usable space if you don't only look on empty meadows far away from society.

 

[Riffraff]

You do know guys, that all those cells dont have to be in one big area right?

 

[Dachs]

So I had a few questions about ecological impact, security, and maintenance...

EDIT: I thought that you'd need more panels if they weren't in the desert.

 

[TheLastOne36]

... Macedonia?

hmm i don't know, we could always move all those macedonians to america or france or something. The mountainous land could prove to be a problem however...

 

[Mirc]

The simple answer is everywhere. On rooftops, unused space near highways, maybe even on water. There's lots of usable space if you don't only look on empty meadows far away from society.

I mostly posted that because of the Russia joke.

 

[Leonel]

hmm i don't know, we could always move all those macedonians to america or france or something. The mountainous land could prove to be a problem however...

We'll take in the Estonians, the Slovakians. Heck, we'll even embrace and welcome the Bulgarians! But no way no how are we going to let Macedonian's in!

With their nuts and their foreign ways... OUTRAGOUS

 

[TheLastOne36]

your gonna accept 25 million bulgarians? go right ahead!

 

[civ_king]

nah forget the Bulgarians too and especially the Roma J/K

 

[Mirc]

your gonna accept 25 million bulgarians? go right ahead!

Okay, I understood the idea with the Polish language. But the Bulgarian people are just over 8 million!!! 8 is quite far from 25!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarians

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I read in an article in Scientific American that the US can, with an updated power grid, advances in solar power technology, and facilities in the deserts of the Southwest US (basically the idea in the OP), provide most of its energy needs.

 

[Martacus]

I'm with those who favor putting them on rooftops. The stimulus bill should have had some major incentives for people who want panels installed on their homes. At our house, even with our inefficient 20-year-old refrigerator, we barely use more than 1 kilowatt hour per day. Professional installation, even for the small system we would need, would be prohibitively expensive for a couple earning less than $30k/year, and I don't yet trust my handyman skills enough to go the DIY route. But if the stimulus bill included some funds for low-income households to get renewable energy, I'd be contacting some government official in a jiffy.

Sadly that's not the case.

 

[Mowque]

But if the stimulus bill included some funds for low-income households to get renewable energy, I'd be contacting some government official in a jiffy.

Sadly that's not the case.

Does solar power really work all that well in the North East? Its not very sunny out. *looks outside into blowing snowstorm*

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I'm with those who favor putting them on rooftops. The stimulus bill should have had some major incentives for people who want panels installed on their homes. At our house, even with our inefficient 20-year-old refrigerator, we barely use more than 1 kilowatt hour per day. Professional installation, even for the small system we would need, would be prohibitively expensive for a couple earning less than $30k/year, and I don't yet trust my handyman skills enough to go the DIY route. But if the stimulus bill included some funds for low-income households to get renewable energy, I'd be contacting some government official in a jiffy.

Sadly that's not the case.

Wouldn't it be great if an economic stimulus included projects for the expansion of renewable energy sources?