Posted on 07/29/2008 8:20:20 PM PDT by Flavius
European Union officials say they’re considering an ambitious plan to draw energy from the sun that beats down relentlessly on the Sahara. By building a solar power plant the size of Wales (a small area, compared to the vastness of the Sahara) and laying down high-voltage transmission cables, the EU could potentially capture enough clean energy to power the entire continent
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.discovermagazine.com ...
good thing is they have 100+ oil scam margin worked in
ath 35-50 dollar oil, they should be able to squash all these free energy deals
cant make profit on something crazy like sun from the desert non sense
oh and also, we can possibly ruin the pristine landscape of the desert
it would ruin the neighborhood resale values something fierce
They should put it somewhere thats safe and stable. Like Libya or Chad.
Nam Vet
They are trying to get a mega-solar plant in California permitted. 500 megawatts (I know, doesn’t sound “mega”) but it takes up 9 square miles. Yikes.
And now they want to talk about one the size of Wales?
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just build a few nukes?
Exactly. And in case the author didn’t know it, the oil in the Mideast can power America for many many more years! It just gives me the the warm and fuzzies.
The size of Wales!!???
I realize that the Saraha is a desert, but there is wildlife there. The desert is an environment. Apparently these folks are willing to destroy 8,000 square miles of desert - Wales is 160 miles long and 60 miles wide, about the size of western Oregon from Portland to Roseburg and the ocean to the Cascades - and just take it over without a bit of concern about the environment. And, needless to say, there’s that other concern about the other 12 hours a day that the sun isn’t shining, and storage is needed. How many batteries will they need to keep Europe well lit at night?
On the other hand, this kind of stuff makes great science fiction. I can see this power facility showing up on an upcoming episode of “Doctor Who.”
You get big enough, you gotta consider all of the effects.
/johnny
could
If it were that easy, we could power our entire nation from our own Mojave desert, but solar just isn't that efficient or cost effective yet.
Here is a calculator to compare different areas to the size of Wales.
How big is your environmental boondoggle?
In fact using the calculator one discovers the area we hope to drill in ANWR is so small the result is thus;
You might get a more useful comparison using the 'Area the size of WHALES' utility!
So the EU wants to build a Solar plant that will cover more than 22,000 square kilometers yet Nancy Pelosi will save the world by preventing drilling in a 2,000 acre area.
Insanity.
The comments to this fantasy speak volumes. Those across the pond think a little different.
well i hear some of them are medicated
so in their minds they are sane
That is a great idea; it will help to rapidly integrate the mosque right into London and the rest of Europe and bring the islamist rapidly into control of the western europe...
Yeah I been discussing that with some libs. They are trying to sell the concept that it is a much smaller footprint then oil. *rolls eyes*
Yeah libs will tell you with a straight face that the 22K square kilometers is a smaller footprint then bad oil. they think carbon footprint is all that matters. land is meaningless.
would you expound on this post? im not getting it
Hey don’t get too ambitious.
With global warming on the way and the ice caps melting the Sahara will be under water in a few years.
Just ask AlGore.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.