Can solar panels in 2% of Sahara desert power the entire world?

Discussion in 'Environment & Conservation' started by DennisTate, May 6, 2020.

  1. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,592
    Likes Received:
    2,618
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    This is certainly encouraging information.

    Especially with seven hundred and ten trillion dollars in the worldwide Derivatives markets as of 2014........... . those markets are vulnerable and trillions need to be diverted into something that actually makes some sense for the long term.





    Can solar panels in 2% of Sahara desert power the entire world?
     
  2. gfm7175

    gfm7175 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2018
    Messages:
    9,503
    Likes Received:
    4,833
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    No.
     
    Josephwalker and DennisTate like this.
  3. Creasy Tvedt

    Creasy Tvedt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2019
    Messages:
    10,291
    Likes Received:
    13,163
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Probably not, and the amount of pollution that would be created building and maintaining all the panels, switching, storage and distribution hardware would more than negate any green gains.

    Even Michael Moore has figured the ugly side of solar out.
     
    DennisTate likes this.
  4. Moonglow

    Moonglow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Messages:
    20,754
    Likes Received:
    8,047
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    There would need to be transformers all over the globe to step up the electromotive force.
     
    DennisTate likes this.
  5. Creasy Tvedt

    Creasy Tvedt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2019
    Messages:
    10,291
    Likes Received:
    13,163
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    And all the environmental horrors that go with all that distribution hardware.

    Climate change: Electrical industry's 'dirty secret' boosts ... - BBC
    www.bbc.com › news › science-environment-49567197

    Sep 13, 2019 - It is 23,500 times more warming than carbon dioxide (CO2). ... The way we make electricity around the world is changing rapidly. ... Louis Shaffer, electrical business manager at Eaton, said: "The newer gear has very low leak ..
     
  6. Moonglow

    Moonglow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Messages:
    20,754
    Likes Received:
    8,047
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    That is why each individual's abode or business would need to be hardwired to deliver the juice directly to the consumer.
     
    DennisTate likes this.
  7. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,592
    Likes Received:
    2,618
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Personally I rather like the idea put forward by a number of Japanese scientists and engineers who postulated wiring the electricity under the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.......... If that worked then the next step could take place.

    http://www.ssb-foundation.com

    http://www.ssb-foundation.com/preamble.html

     
  8. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,592
    Likes Received:
    2,618
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Another option would be less intense and a certain number of hectares of the Sahara done like the Sahara Solar Breeder Project and then right beside it........ perhaps an area twice as large done in the spirit and intent of the Sahara Forest Project.... which is very different indeed.

    https://www.saharaforestproject.com


    https://www.saharaforestproject.com/jordan/


    The Sahara Forest Project is very much in line with what Carl Cantrell advocates:

     
    Last edited: May 7, 2020
  9. Moonglow

    Moonglow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Messages:
    20,754
    Likes Received:
    8,047
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    The planet has a giant magnetic field, to bad we can't tap that for power.
     
    DennisTate likes this.
  10. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,592
    Likes Received:
    2,618
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male

    You could be correct..... I am no expert and I don't know the final and simple or not so simple answer to all this but.......
    I do think that this is more logical than any variation of a Carbon Tax... which I think will do essentially NOTHING to prevent ocean levels from rising!

    For the record I have to plead guilty to being biased due to the fact that the lake that my house is on is classified as tidal water. I tend to worry more about the threat of rising ocean levels than somebody living in Washington, D. C., or Ottawa, Ontario, Canada might tend to do!

    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...and-focusing-on-concrete-improvements.557480/
     
  11. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,592
    Likes Received:
    2,618
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Last edited: May 7, 2020

Share This Page