3 ms·

Is a megaproject like this a good idea considering that there could (possibly) be innovations in the sector? What if scientists find a way to reduce the panel s

Is a megaproject like this a good idea considering that there could (possibly) be innovations in the sector? What if scientists find a way to reduce the panel size by 30% in the future?

Pfhreak 9y ago
Should I buy a graphics card to play games now? What if Nvidia comes out with a better card in the future? At some point you have to stop worrying about the future and recognize the benefits you can get today with the resources and technology you have avaliable to you.
- shubhamjain 9y ago
  Fair enough, but my worry is if a building a plant 100x the size of the existing largest is a rational investment, considering that the area is ripe for innovation. The analogous case would be building a supercomputer of that scale 10-20 years ago.
  - kamaal 9y ago
    And yet people were building supercomputers 20 years ago. Engineering waits for none. They were building the pyramids thousands of years back. And we continue to tall buildings even now.
  - adventured 9y ago
    Keep in mind this is a PR piece, a "memorandum of understanding." They haven't actually legally agreed on anything, nothing has been paid or spent, no final contract is in place. Next after that, is that the construction will take place over decades. So it should reasonably be assumed they'll take advantage of some improvements along the way.
durkie 9y ago
one should consider saudi arabia's case in particular: they are one of the few places that derives a tremendous amount of their electricity generation from the direct burning of crude oil (almost 1 million barrels per day). each barrel that they don't burn is one they can sell instead, and this is a situation that makes economic sense for them now, regardless of future tech improvements.
greglindahl 9y ago
This megaproject is going to be installed gradually through 2030.
potlee 9y ago
You can still make this argument even after a breakthrough has just been made
jartelt 9y ago
Typically with solar panels you reduce the power output by 30% when you reduce the panel size by 30% ;)

Is a megaproject like this a good idea considering that there could (possibly) be innovations in the sector? What if scientists find a way to reduce the panel size by 30% in the future?

Pfhreak 9y ago

Should I buy a graphics card to play games now? What if Nvidia comes out with a better card in the future? At some point you have to stop worrying about the future and recognize the benefits you can get today with the resources and technology you have avaliable to you.

shubhamjain 9y ago
Fair enough, but my worry is if a building a plant 100x the size of the existing largest is a rational investment, considering that the area is ripe for innovation. The analogous case would be building a supercomputer of that scale 10-20 years ago.
- kamaal 9y ago
  And yet people were building supercomputers 20 years ago. Engineering waits for none. They were building the pyramids thousands of years back. And we continue to tall buildings even now.
- adventured 9y ago
  Keep in mind this is a PR piece, a "memorandum of understanding." They haven't actually legally agreed on anything, nothing has been paid or spent, no final contract is in place. Next after that, is that the construction will take place over decades. So it should reasonably be assumed they'll take advantage of some improvements along the way.

durkie 9y ago

one should consider saudi arabia's case in particular: they are one of the few places that derives a tremendous amount of their electricity generation from the direct burning of crude oil (almost 1 million barrels per day). each barrel that they don't burn is one they can sell instead, and this is a situation that makes economic sense for them now, regardless of future tech improvements.

greglindahl 9y ago

This megaproject is going to be installed gradually through 2030.

potlee 9y ago

You can still make this argument even after a breakthrough has just been made

jartelt 9y ago

Typically with solar panels you reduce the power output by 30% when you reduce the panel size by 30% ;)