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In order to actually address the total energy consumption of the world using solar energy, based on 2009 consumption numbers (~500 EJ), we'd have to convert 30%
by kwantam 15y ago
In order to actually address the total energy consumption of the world using solar energy, based on 2009 consumption numbers (~500 EJ), we'd have to convert 30% of the total incident solar energy (~1600 EJ) to a usable form.
Doing this would cool the earth by about the same amount as moving it ~12.5% further away from the sun.
Solar is not a viable long-term solution.
- Pinckney 15y agoWhere are you getting your figure for total incident solar energy? Using 17410^15 W total solar flux from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_energy_budget#Incoming_energy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_energy_budget#Incomin... I'm getting 5.510^24 J/yr ~= 5,500,000 EJ/yr (all wavelenghts).
- kwantam 15y agoYou're absolutely right. The source for my original number was quoting a narrow band of wavelengths and making some additional assumptions about usability of energy flux. Thanks for the correction; I'm a bit less of a pessimist now :)