4 ms·

Sandbox 2.0 But also, solar power is already economical.

elicash 2mo ago
Seems to have been developed in 2008 (continuing through 2017), which explains the "economical" framing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Engineering#Development_of_the_Grand_Challenges_(2008) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Engineerin...
staplers 2mo ago
3. Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods If only we could invent a solar-powered, self-replicating, carbon-stacking, habitat-building machine..
- twothreeone 2mo ago
  Yes, plant more trees!
  - rush86999 2mo ago
    That's what he was trying to imply
  - scottyah 2mo ago
    It's not that simple, trees contribute to global warming. Norway has had problems with the increased tree growth as snow melts.
- marcosdumay 2mo ago
  Not to say we shouldn't grow plants... But we can do it 2 or 3 orders of magnitude more efficiently with machines.
  - xyzsparetimexyz 2mo ago
    We can?
    - staplers 2mo ago
      Yea with my new Tree 2. Pre-order and VC funding accepted now.
glaslong 2mo ago
At this point the Hard Problem is policy to get out of solar's way.
podgietaru 2mo ago
Many of these problems don't seem scientific at all, but rather a problem of political will. As you said, Solar power is incredibly economical. There are plenty of ideas around putting them over farms, or parking lots en-masse to provide cleaner energy. Access to clean drinking water, while certainly scientific in some situations, is also a problem of political will and money. Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure - It's infrastructure week!
- RajuChacha108 2mo ago
  [flagged]
  - snaking0776 2mo ago
    https://www.statista.com/chart/35117/levelized-cost-of-energy-generation-by-source/ https://www.statista.com/chart/35117/levelized-cost-of-energ... Not sure what you’re talking about here. We can’t replace all energy needs with solar but it’s clearly one of the cheapest energy sources and with the added benefit of low capital expense to get started so you can set it up in distributed grids without the massive expenditure to support nuclear installations.
    - RajuChacha108 2mo ago
      If it is profitable without subsidies from government then everyone would do it as there is money to be made. You do not need peer review studies to prove something is profitable.
- Marha01 2mo ago
  > As you said, Solar power is incredibly economical. Not if you include the cost of needed storage.
  - gfarah 2mo ago
    Yes It is. Even including batteries: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/lcoe-and-value-adjusted-lcoe-for-solar-pv-plus-battery-storage-coal-and-natural-gas-in-selected-regions-in-the-stated-policies-scenario-2022-2030 https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/lcoe-and-valu...
xnx 2mo ago
In some regions, but it would be great if it was economical in cloudy Seattle and not just the sunbelt

Seems to have been developed in 2008 (continuing through 2017), which explains the "economical" framing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Engineering#Development_of_the_Grand_Challenges_(2008) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Engineerin...

staplers 2mo ago

3. Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods If only we could invent a solar-powered, self-replicating, carbon-stacking, habitat-building machine..

twothreeone 2mo ago
Yes, plant more trees!
- rush86999 2mo ago
  That's what he was trying to imply
- scottyah 2mo ago
  It's not that simple, trees contribute to global warming. Norway has had problems with the increased tree growth as snow melts.
marcosdumay 2mo ago
Not to say we shouldn't grow plants... But we can do it 2 or 3 orders of magnitude more efficiently with machines.
- xyzsparetimexyz 2mo ago
  We can?
  - staplers 2mo ago
    Yea with my new Tree 2. Pre-order and VC funding accepted now.

glaslong 2mo ago

At this point the Hard Problem is policy to get out of solar's way.

podgietaru 2mo ago

Many of these problems don't seem scientific at all, but rather a problem of political will. As you said, Solar power is incredibly economical. There are plenty of ideas around putting them over farms, or parking lots en-masse to provide cleaner energy. Access to clean drinking water, while certainly scientific in some situations, is also a problem of political will and money. Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure - It's infrastructure week!

RajuChacha108 2mo ago
[flagged]
- snaking0776 2mo ago
  https://www.statista.com/chart/35117/levelized-cost-of-energy-generation-by-source/ https://www.statista.com/chart/35117/levelized-cost-of-energ... Not sure what you’re talking about here. We can’t replace all energy needs with solar but it’s clearly one of the cheapest energy sources and with the added benefit of low capital expense to get started so you can set it up in distributed grids without the massive expenditure to support nuclear installations.
  - RajuChacha108 2mo ago
    If it is profitable without subsidies from government then everyone would do it as there is money to be made. You do not need peer review studies to prove something is profitable.
Marha01 2mo ago
> As you said, Solar power is incredibly economical. Not if you include the cost of needed storage.
- gfarah 2mo ago
  Yes It is. Even including batteries: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/lcoe-and-value-adjusted-lcoe-for-solar-pv-plus-battery-storage-coal-and-natural-gas-in-selected-regions-in-the-stated-policies-scenario-2022-2030 https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/lcoe-and-valu...

xnx 2mo ago

In some regions, but it would be great if it was economical in cloudy Seattle and not just the sunbelt