Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
Hello,
Have you folks seen the proposal in Scientific American? It uses a large amount of solar PV and heat systems in the southwest of the USA to generate up to 69% of all the electrical power for the entire contry:
A Solar Grand Plan: Scientific American
snip
Lessee -- it pretty much solves at least three major problems: energy, security, and economic stress. |
Neil,
I like this as a thought a experiment
but in the real world it will have some issues
DC lost out as the power of choice for very good reasons 100 years ago
Cadmium in PV is not much better than mercury from coal in my book
+3-4 cents per kWh for cavern storage is hard to support 11 cent rates
most of all it starts in 2020 and changes 69% of power distribution in 30 years
I has taken a 100 years to build the system - it will take that long to change it
don't get me wrong - I'm for it - but it must earn its way into the grid
if it doesn't it will be an economic burden of good intentions
BTW
all the best Ideas are always 10-20 years away
I have been dreaming of viable PV for... +25 years
Hey! weren't we supposed to have jet cars by now