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The solution is not bother with space solar. Any other conceivable idea involving Earth-based solar, even if it means floating solar panels, a worldwide power g
by _hypx 4y ago
The solution is not bother with space solar. Any other conceivable idea involving Earth-based solar, even if it means floating solar panels, a worldwide power grid, or vast energy storage solutions, will be far cheaper and more practical.
- JoeAltmaier 4y agoPractical? With that inconvenient periodic eclipse that reduces the duty cycle to 50% (nighttime)? And solar flux in orbit is many times that on the ground. So efficiency improves again. Let's skip over the objection about transmission-loss. That's estimated at 10% or 20% at most. The cheaper part is fast evaporating. Lift cost is falling geometrically with new rockets etc. Costs of eminent domain, mounting and weatherproofing are not zero. They're maybe the largest ground-based cost. Wet blankets aside, space-based has the huge, huge advantage of not requiring local planning permission to do!