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I wonder if a self sustaining solar plant can be set up in a desert with a factory powered by solar energy manufacturing solar panels with the sand and then bei
by newyankee 6y ago
I wonder if a self sustaining solar plant can be set up in a desert with a factory powered by solar energy manufacturing solar panels with the sand and then being installed piece by piece. The stuff that will be needed to be brought from outside will be water (if a lot is needed), aluminum and concrete for the support structure and other metals in the solar panel. Surely a crazy project converting the hypothetical 100 miles x 100 miles square in Nevada or some other desert might be more feasible. It is okay even if this takes 10 years as long as the process is made sustainable to the extent possible.
- 01100011 6y agoWhy do you need concrete? Can't you just sinter the sand grains together?
- avmich 6y agoLike this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptUj8JRAYu8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptUj8JRAYu8 A popular video a few years ago which demonstrate, uhm, a 3D printing of models out of sand.
- 01100011 6y agoYeah, exactly. I love that video. I wish someone would combine the wind powered sculptures of Theo Jansen with a solar sinterer. Let them roam the sahara and turn it back into solid ground... or buildings and monuments.
- blargmaster33 6y agoSolar panels ARE NOT MADE FTOM SAND! The silicon used is forced from hyper pure mines and refined further from there! Manufacturing solar panels are one of the dirtiest industrial processes we have!
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- pjc50 6y agoThis seems rather mad compared to just using the existing manufacturing infrastructure; sand is a fairly trivial component compared to all the chemical processing involved, the backing (usually polycarbonate, I think), aluminum frames, glass frontage, indium tin oxide, copper wiring, tin, etc.