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I think the commenter was implying that rather than putting it on the roof of people's homes, the focus should be on utility-scale solar power stations.
by KoftaBob 3y ago
I think the commenter was implying that rather than putting it on the roof of people's homes, the focus should be on utility-scale solar power stations.
- Tade0 3y agoWhich doesn't make too much sense outside of the US, where land isn't nearly as cheap.
- konschubert 3y agoIt makes sense in any country that has agriculture. Solar produces 10x as much power per area than energy crops. And other than with crops, you can have sheep grazing and have a functioning meadow ecosystem develop below the panels.
- emmet 3y agoWhat are the upfront & maintenance costs of solar vs crops on that kind of scale? I'd hazard a guess it's a little more than 10x. Also, how are you planning to grow meadows under solar panels without any sunlight?
- konschubert 3y agoI’m honestly super excited about you asking because I think I’ll be able to change your mind with a single picture: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1226802459-800x533.jpg https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Getty... The sun moves, and therefore the shadows move. And you need some space between the panels anyways, so they don’t shade each other. Also, grass can grow in the shadow! The cost of installation is not a problem, because the ROI is greater than the interest on a loan. That’s what banks are for!
- emmet 3y agoYou are correct, this has changed my mind as it is a lovely weird photo that I have enjoyed.