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Stewards of the Earth
metastasis_d:
--- Quote from: explicit on 03 Feb 2015, 19:59 ---I can't really think of too many egregious environmental issues for solar power though. It's mostly just... not very good right now...
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Mostly basic infrastructure concerns as well as building the things. I've been knocking on wood for graphene to advance the state of the art for like a decade now.
Akima:
--- Quote from: Orkboy on 03 Feb 2015, 12:53 ---I'm a fan of water power.
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Leaving aside the issues associated with construction of dams (displacement of populations, loss of productive land, requirements for gigantic quantities of concrete and steel), the environmental effects others have mentioned, and the political problems where rivers run through multiple nations/jurisdictions, hydro-power only works where there is sufficient precipitation and suitable topography close to where the power is needed.
--- Quote from: Aziraphale on 03 Feb 2015, 20:17 ---I think -- though I'm working from memory here -- it has to do with the minerals used in the photovoltaic cells.
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One has to bear in mind that solar does not necessarily require photovoltaic cells. Solar thermal is another option, and one that does not require rare-earth minerals. Arguably the heat produced by thermal solar is easier to store than electricity (at the present state of the battery art), reducing the problem of generating solar electricity at night. Thermal solar tends to come in "big chunks", however, and the collectors can require large flat areas to be bulldozed.
Carl-E:
I present the solar furnace at Odeillo in the Pyrénées. Reaching temperatures over 6,000 degrees F (3500 C) since 1970. The plane mirrors in the foreground follow the sun, reflecting light onto the parabolic array from dawn to dusk. It's at an elevation that's above much cloud cover and provides for a long day.
And hydro power doesn't always require a dam. Most of NY state and the surrounding area gets power from a simple diversion of the Niagra river before it goes over the falls...
explicit:
It's all based on the power of the river. A damn is usually built to add force to the water when it passes through the turbines.
I like the pic and I may be talking out my butt here, but I believe the solar power arrays (mirrors) can provide a lot more power than the cells. The arrays just do what all other power plants do - make things hot and use steam (though I believe instead of water solar arrays use a salt mix in a closed system).
Orkboy:
There was a theory a while ago that a satellite could trail a long copper cable behind it to generate a current off of earth's magnetic field, but the obvious problem is getting power down out of orbit.
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