4 ms·
Today we use about 600 exajoules of primary energy per year. The sun hits us with about 3.8 million exajoules per year. 1.03^1000 is a factor of 7e12. So under
by acidburnNSA 4y ago
Today we use about 600 exajoules of primary energy per year. The sun hits us with about 3.8 million exajoules per year. 1.03^1000 is a factor of 7e12. So under that assumption, the earth would be making 1 billion times more power than we receive from the sun.
I can pretty much guarantee that we won't be scaling at 3%/yr for the next 1000 years. And if we do, that's an argument for lots more nuclear fission, and a lot of fusion too. Because the solar-derived flows (wind, solar, hydro, biofuel, fossil fuel) won't be able to keep up even if we covered 100% of the earth with solar panels!
- ncmncm 4y agoEarth? Who said any of that will be used on Earth? OK, Earth will use a bit of it. We will need to dismantle gas giants' moons for construction materials.
- aidenn0 4y agoYes, every exponential curve is really a logistic curve in disguise, but using today's energy is picking an arbitrary point along that curve.