200 mile by 200 mile solar panel provides 100%

MD

ECOWORLD

We are a long long long way from this goal, but we can hope. The good news is that energy prices are making PV more competitive, which will build PV volume, which in turn will reduce price. In 50 years we could really have something here.
_________________
"It's still all about energy!"

Schultz: I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!

md@peakoil.com

Wildwell · Fission Joined: Feb 03, 2005 Posts: 2080 Location: UK

'At the current rate of world PV production, it would take 175 years before photovoltaics supplied just one percent of the world's energy requirements.'

'So how much would the giant square of PVs 200 miles on a side cost? An array large enough to power the world? At today's price of $6 per watt, about 50 trillion dollars.'

BTW about $1 trillion dollars are spent per year in all the world on defence, just to put that in perspective.

Kingcoal · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:46 pm Post subject:

The thing is that what we are running short of is something to run our vehicles on.

The_Toecutter · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 18, 2005 Posts: 1736

Electricity can do that very well for personal transport like automobiles, along with trains. Biofuels could meet the needs for on-road freight haulers and road trains.

A shame we aren't making use of that technology. There's still oil to buy up and make a few oil execs a little richer, and they'll be damned if we quit using their product, peak production and its consequences be damned too.
_________________
The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the old growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder. ~Thomas Jefferson

RonMN · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

Ya know MD...maybe we CAN do it...

I've just been thinking about the amazing AMERICAN SPIRIT that has brought us this far...The American Spirit that grew veggies in every square inch of their victory gardens during WW2...and they set up "canning kitchens" to conserve energy.

This may be "pie in the sky"...but...

HHMMMMMMMMM...

The_Toecutter · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 18, 2005 Posts: 1736

Sure we can do it. But will we do it in time to avert collapse? Will those in charge take some responsibility for a change? Is it too late to even avert a severe crisis?

The American spirit gives us guidance and tells us it won't hurt to try, come hell or highwater.
_________________
The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the old growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder. ~Thomas Jefferson

DriveElectric · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 639

We have to keep reminding ourselves. PO is not an energy shortage. PO is a liquid fuel energy shortage.

Electricity can be generated in numerous ways that are sustainable and can meet our demands. That is really not the issue and 200 square miles of PV is not really necessary.

Wildwell · Fission Joined: Feb 03, 2005 Posts: 2080 Location: UK

Well, we would need several very large scale installations in Oceania, Africa and the Americans, connected on a world wide grid to Hydro plants and wind turbines in North America and Northern European. You would need international co-operation and less money spent on wars. Construction would have to be ramped up to a scale unseen at any time in human history.

Things could then carry on with biofuels for trucks and some planes, roll out high speed rail/electric commuter rail where economical and battery powered and hydrogen powered cars and buses.

Things could carry on pretty much as normal, but it would have to start tomorrow. Trouble is, it may be too late to avert at least one oil crash and it’s incredibly expensive.

VMA131Marine · Tar Sands Joined: Jul 05, 2004 Posts: 58

DriveElectric · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 639

Starvid · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:09 am Post subject:

But still electricity is not the problem. Solar power solves a problem that does not exist.

The issue is liquid fuels.
_________________
Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

MD · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:37 am Post subject:

Your weekly PV skeet shoot happily brought to you by MD Laughing

_________________
"It's still all about energy!"

Schultz: I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!

md@peakoil.com

MD · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:57 am Post subject:

Licho · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:03 am Post subject:

sicophiliac · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:54 pm Post subject:

I am sure over time the costs of construction of solar cells will decrease over time. I could imagine maybe a self sustaining production plant fully automated with artificial intelligence systems manufacturing the panels. Mining them and using the solar power itself to produce more panels. Also another type of solar energy might be more economical in the short term. I saw one experimental powerplant on TV.. years back... dont remember where or who made it that worked like a giant magnifying glass. Reflectors focused the sunlight from a huge circular aray onto a pillar in the middle that used superheated liquified salt to run a genorator in the same fashion a steam generator works. Maybe this could prove to be a cheaper and easier way to harness solar energy?