New research shows densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa could harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm tropical seas near the equator.

‘Limitless’ energy: how floating solar panels near the equator could power future population hotspots::New research shows densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa could harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm tropical seas near the equator.

  • mlc894@lemm.eeEnglish
    17·
    11 months ago

    Anytime one of these big projects has something offshore, I have to wonder whether it wouldn’t be more likely to be adopted if it were on land instead, if possible. Everything. EVERYTHING is more expensive when you’re putting it in the middle of miles of salt water.

    • Overzeetop@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Current power demand worldwide could be satisfied with around 115k sq miles of conventional panels. That’s around the size of Arizona or Bulgaria - which is a lot, but also a minuscule amount compared to the earths surface. There’s little need to put panels on the ocean, and it also puts the generation remote from most of the energy usage.

      • darth_helmet@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        Room temperature superconductor (if it’s real) changes the game. We could pave the southwest in panels and send the power where it needs to go.

        • Overzeetop@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          It’s such a weird nerdy thing. And, yeah, if it’s true and manufacturable, the rest of this century is going to be fucking wild.