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That 170,000 terawatts hitting earth is dwarfed by the 400 trillion terawatts output by the sun, so we can always build some fraction of a Dyson sphere if we st
by paulsutter 4y ago
That 170,000 terawatts hitting earth is dwarfed by the 400 trillion terawatts output by the sun, so we can always build some fraction of a Dyson sphere if we start to run short with the 170,000
The sooner we stop using these feeble fossil fuels the better
- willis936 4y agoFantasy solutions don't work for real problems. We have the capability to make real problems via terraforming.
- hackernewds 4y agoTerraforming is a fantasy that won't work for real problems
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- andai 4y ago>We have the capability to make real problems via terraforming. [emphasis mine]
- Dylan16807 4y agoYes, they slightly misread, but it's a fair retort. Terraforming is pretty fantasy, but it happens.
- paulsutter 4y agoWe’re carbon (de-)terraforming the earth everyday on a global scale, haven’t you heard? It’s very real
- gibolt 4y agoA Dyson sphere is just as much fantasy as physics, true of most of today's technology just 50 years ago. Solar and wind are needed today, but Starship could bring launch costs down enough that some highly optimized space solar panels with microwave power beaming could be viable within a decade.
- paulsutter 4y agoHow would capturing the beamed energy on earth be any easier than capturing sunlight directly? Maybe illuminate existing solar arrays during nighttime? Any other energy receiver would be so far behind PV on the price / manufacturing learning curve
- lovemenot 4y ago>> Maybe illuminate existing solar arrays during nighttime? I never thought about this. Is there some orbit where this becomes feasible?
- zardo 4y agoA sun synchronous orbit above the terminator would do it.
- gibolt 4y agoMain benefit is avoiding transmission losses through our atmosphere. Capturing the signal is easy (we have satellite communication already)
- Cthulhu_ 4y agoI believe the solar panel part, but not on the microwave power beaming; has that been proven to work already? How efficient is it? What is the effect on anything flying through or being near where said microwaves are received? Solar panels in space is the believable part; rays of concentrated energy being sent back to earth is what I'm skeptical about. Besides, solar panels have a limited lifetime; I don't believe space solar panels are a cost effective solution to solving the energy crisis.