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0 pointslumost3y ago0 comments

I’d suggest reviewing the site guidelines on comments.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I posted a response on some of the challenges with marginal economics in renewables and responded to your comment with a peer reviewed and cited journal article on these issues and the relevant data point from this study.

Your response contains an ad-hominem personal attack, and does not contribute to the discussion.

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3 comments · 1 top-level

ncmncm3y ago· 2 in thread

Which part of a reservoir surface do you consider "land"?

lumostOP3y ago

Presuming a total adoption of solar across all reservoirs on the planet. We would have roughly 220k sq km of available “land”, roughly enough to support the EUs energy demand (assuming the energy could be magically transported from reservoirs on other continents)

Placing panels everywhere we can is a great idea, however pretending that there is a silver bullet is putting our heads in the sand.

ncmncm3y ago

Solar is not the only clean, cheap energy source. Wind coexists nicely with agriculture.

And, constructed reservoirs are not the only still water. California has estimated it can gather 12 GW just from its canals.

Solar may also usefully be sited on active pastureland, which is not in short supply. There, it reduces water demand and offers shelter for livestock. Livestock keeps down weeds.

There is a fair amount of industrial roofing in use, where solar extends its life. Some people have already installed there.

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