Robert J. Bradbury writes:
> If you could surround the equator with a 10 mi band of solar cells
> you would roughly equal current annual power consumption. If allow
The chiefest fallacy in criticising photovoltaics, is the assumption
that one needs extra land, and that land will be unavailable for other
purposes.
In urban areas (where also most energy is consumed), the bulk of the
surface is paved with dumb heat absorbers. The idea is to use roofs,
facades, and free standing panels in already developed areas, with
some additional areas at city periphery, and maybe extensive areas in
the deserts (where the shading and the local abundance of energy can
be utilized for raising crops on hitherton nonfertile ground).
Also, this does not include microwaved power from a fleet of
photovoltaics satellites, built and launched by the kiloton in
automatic lunar factories.
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