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Is solar power a good alternative?
- Thread starter civ_king
- Start date
But it still rains, and can occasionally become torrential. Ever hear of flash floods?
Martacus
World's Greatest Warrior
Yes; yes it would.
So the article in the OP is irrelevant? Nice.
It is a claim that it is feasible to do a different project, and doesn't talk about the problems with that project that I mentioned that nobody has adequately addressed. The bit about solar panels on houses is something not in the OP.
TheLastOne36
Deity
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2007
- Messages
- 14,045
silly mistake.The problem with solar energy is not finding enough space to put up solar panels. The problem is the vast amount of energy storage required to keep that energy until it is needed.
Energy generation isn't much of a problem. If it was only that, we just would have to put up enough solar panels, wind turbines and so on. Storing that energy is the real challenge if you really want to replace fossil fuels.
Energy generation isn't much of a problem. If it was only that, we just would have to put up enough solar panels, wind turbines and so on. Storing that energy is the real challenge if you really want to replace fossil fuels.
I agree. Also another problem is the cost. Solar panels themselves are expensive and have to be replace after a couple decades.
Ayatollah So
the spoof'll set you free
Whoever made the point about decreasing solar cost hit the nail on the head. Photovoltaic prices have dropped by half in the period 1996-2002 (last year of available data in my source). The technological overlap with other semiconductor applications gives this field a big boost of related research. Even though photovoltaics are much costlier than solar-thermal now, I'll bet that reverses in about two decades.
fusion. Get on board! It's the future.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
I've posted this report before Al Gore made it cool.
Lots of exciting stuff these days in the power generating area.
Lots of exciting stuff these days in the power generating area.
If Fusion does not become a source of power by 2050 I will sue Maxis.
Higher Game
National Socialist
Photovoltaic is garbage and always will be. It's "competitive" in some places but it can't scale much at all. Too many rare elements are required. Passive solar is fine, but is only a fossil fuel extender and won't replace them. Solar for sterling engines has the most potential, but it just won't have the muscle of nuclear or coal.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
I know you were serious!
I'm not saying that it won't happen; I know people who are working on it. They're pretty gosh-darn smart. As far as bang for the buck goes, well, I'm not very convinced that fusion is worth it as a large-scale power source. I'd be happy to be wrong, of course.
We'll crack it, no question... but I think we're better off from an economics standpoint to take advantage of the fusion power plant that's already up and running for us.
I'm not saying that it won't happen; I know people who are working on it. They're pretty gosh-darn smart. As far as bang for the buck goes, well, I'm not very convinced that fusion is worth it as a large-scale power source. I'd be happy to be wrong, of course.
We'll crack it, no question... but I think we're better off from an economics standpoint to take advantage of the fusion power plant that's already up and running for us.
Paris Hilton's film career??
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 13,725
Besides Paris Hilton's career, there are no fusion power plants in existence.
ITER is one in development as a proof-of-concept one and isn't expected to actually generate net energy. http://www.iter.org/a/index_faq.htm
