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I don't think this needs to be tremendously expensive, and there are side benefits to this. More reflective footpath and road surfaces (think paler in colour r

I don't think this needs to be tremendously expensive, and there are side benefits to this. More reflective footpath and road surfaces (think paler in colour rather than mirror like) are cooler - urban heat will be a problem that also needs solving and that solves both. Solar panels are also somewhat reflective. I think it's a mistake to think 'large mirror' than to think about what we can change about the massive surfaces that we are already covering with man-made structures.

zardo 4y ago
Those aren't the rapid climate interventions this seems to be about. This about injecting massive amounts of material into the atmosphere and/or ocean.
paulkrush 4y ago
Solar panels heat the earth: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/giant-desert-solar-farms-might-have-unintended-climate-consequences https://www.greenbiz.com/article/giant-desert-solar-farms-mi...
- pshc 4y ago
  More or less than fossil fuels?
  - samatman 4y ago
    Irrelevant, the point is that they don't increase albedo so deploying absurd amounts of them won't cool the atmosphere.
    - itishappy 4y ago
      The whole point of solar panels is to offset energy which would be produced (easier) with fossil fuels while heating the atmosphere. They very well might cool the atmosphere more, they might not. That seems pretty relevant.
    - pshc 4y ago
      What about the greenhouse effect?
  - cdot2 4y ago
    More or less than nuclear?
    - pshc 4y ago
      Whether it’s with solar or nuclear (or wind, hydro, geothermal, or what have you) I think it’s clear that the fossils need to be replaced foremost.
- ncmncm 4y ago
  Putting solar panels in deserts is a very stupid use of those solar panels, in any case. The only reason solar farms are placed in deserts is that pig-ignorant investors love the idea, so there are oceans of money earmarked for it.
  - rileyphone 4y ago
    What's wrong with putting solar panels in deserts? Increased maintenance? Distance from civilization?
    - itishappy 4y ago
      They also loose efficiency with heat, about 0.5%/°C, so cheap panels can be 25% less efficient.
    - ncmncm 4y ago
      They gather dust, which can cut output 50%. That is on top of the heat induced loss of conversion efficiency, and reduced panel life. And, yes, you need to build transmission lines. They go better in pastures and floating on canals and reservoirs.
- Schroedingersat 4y ago
  Only if placed above high albedo surfaces. And when placed above existing grass several times less than any other option except wind/tidal. A solar panel above asphalt or concrete provides a net increase in albedo. And there is more than enough to provide the required solar share of energy to provide all our needs (with the other half provided by wind).

zardo 4y ago

Those aren't the rapid climate interventions this seems to be about. This about injecting massive amounts of material into the atmosphere and/or ocean.

paulkrush 4y ago

Solar panels heat the earth: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/giant-desert-solar-farms-might-have-unintended-climate-consequences https://www.greenbiz.com/article/giant-desert-solar-farms-mi...

pshc 4y ago
More or less than fossil fuels?
- samatman 4y ago
  Irrelevant, the point is that they don't increase albedo so deploying absurd amounts of them won't cool the atmosphere.
  - itishappy 4y ago
    The whole point of solar panels is to offset energy which would be produced (easier) with fossil fuels while heating the atmosphere. They very well might cool the atmosphere more, they might not. That seems pretty relevant.
  - pshc 4y ago
    What about the greenhouse effect?
- cdot2 4y ago
  More or less than nuclear?
  - pshc 4y ago
    Whether it’s with solar or nuclear (or wind, hydro, geothermal, or what have you) I think it’s clear that the fossils need to be replaced foremost.
ncmncm 4y ago
Putting solar panels in deserts is a very stupid use of those solar panels, in any case. The only reason solar farms are placed in deserts is that pig-ignorant investors love the idea, so there are oceans of money earmarked for it.
- rileyphone 4y ago
  What's wrong with putting solar panels in deserts? Increased maintenance? Distance from civilization?
  - itishappy 4y ago
    They also loose efficiency with heat, about 0.5%/°C, so cheap panels can be 25% less efficient.
  - ncmncm 4y ago
    They gather dust, which can cut output 50%. That is on top of the heat induced loss of conversion efficiency, and reduced panel life. And, yes, you need to build transmission lines. They go better in pastures and floating on canals and reservoirs.
Schroedingersat 4y ago
Only if placed above high albedo surfaces. And when placed above existing grass several times less than any other option except wind/tidal. A solar panel above asphalt or concrete provides a net increase in albedo. And there is more than enough to provide the required solar share of energy to provide all our needs (with the other half provided by wind).