Re: Oil replacement

On 9 May 2005 20:49:11 -0700, "bill" <ford_prefect42@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>
>Tim Keating wrote:
>> On Tue, 10 May 2005 00:09:55 GMT, Robert <RB@..> wrote:

snippy...

>
> I do however take a different tack on how to solve the power
>problem.
> I propose the space elevator, with pv cells suspended from the
>sides.

There is a problem with weight.. Especially the weight of the power
cables needed to get the energy back to earth. The energy loss for
40,000km of transmission line would also be a killer.

> The cost of construction for the tether has been estimated at 5
>billion (liftport.com) and placing the pv cells above the atmosphere
>multiplies their yield by 5 or more. it also extends their service
>life by more than 10 and reduces their day-to-day operation cost by a
>similar factor (1 problem with ground level solar is that they must be
>washed weekly or their yield diminishes drastically [imagine the
>logistical headache of hosing off 100,000 sq km of mirrors in the
>desert weekly]). I once ran the math (please check me on it) and

Rinsing the panels isn't a problem.. especially if the water is
used to support agriculture underneath and around the panels. (I
suspect the frequency will be somewhat lower than once a week.. since
the panels would be parked in a near vertical position at night.. )

>determined that the entire electrical needs of the planet could be
>provided by 200 sqkm of 30% pv on the tether. now understanding that
>to do it right, we will need a minimum of 3 tethers each with a similar
>area of solar collectors, we are still in the range of a $100 ish
>billion project. not bad for the returns.

I was thinking along somewhat different lines.. using large
orbiting mirrors(solar sail) to reflect sunlight down to the ground
based solar arrays. Thus we could have full output from the ground
panels.

My biggest concern with that method is that we would be increasing
the overall solar flux input to the planet. Which is not a good thing
if your concerned about global warming..

> imagine the side advantages we could get from asteroid mining,
>orbital manufacturing, etc. crazy, I realize, but not that bad next to
>200,000 sqkm of solar sterling.

.

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