General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The total area of solar panels it would take to power the world, Europe, and Germany [View all]wercal
(1,370 posts)A 320 mile square of solar panels is a little unrealistic.
I just ran the numbers to see if the 'footprint' was accurate. Now the number I used for Ivanpah is not a 'before losses' type of number - its the actual power output, expected annually....realistically. So, indeed, a 100k square mile version of Ivanpah would power the world.
The reason I was curious to check...I'm sure this graphic was born out of an image from the Neil Tyson Degrasse tv show. He showed a similar graphic. So its being recycled, and I just wanted to test accuracy....and it pans out. And, presumably, a network of smaller plants scattered throughout the equator would always see daylight somewhere...theoretically possible.
But I did also run some numbers on cost...which most people here tend to completely ignore. The cost is outrageous...and the 'break even' time frame is pushing the limit of what I would expect to be the longevity of the mirrors and panels...and as I pointed out this is without factoring in operational costs (those reflectors in the desert aren't just going to dust themselves off!).
And my last teaser was a nod to its environmental benefits. Nobody bit on that one. I honestly don't know how much c02 is released in making acres and acres of mirrors, but intuitively I think its a lot. So the c02 benefit is likely overstated. Nobody bit on that one.
But I also encouraged people to Google the site...and look at its enormous scale. Sure the surrounding area is 'just desert', but there is some vegetation. Well, Ivanpah displaced a lot of that. And there is the tortoise - the same tortoise that has caused thousands of square miles of land to be off limits to grazing, off-roading, even military exercises at Ft Irwin. Ivanpah is smack in the middle of its habitat - with a special exemption. Why? I guess solar is 'holier' than other desert activities.
And, it turns out, Ivanpah is killing birds like crazy.
So I actually think huge solar plants are a bad idea, and (short of technological breakthroughs to reduce cost) won't be our energy future.