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Archive:000/Rooftop solar: Difference between revisions
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Rooftops are a good place to put [[solar | Rooftops are a good place to put [[solar]] panels, because: | ||
* They are close to where the [[energy]] is typically used. | * They are close to where the [[energy]] is typically used. | ||
* They need no extra [[land]] (unlike [[solar farms]]). That's an environmental footprint avoided. | * They need no extra [[land]] (unlike [[solar farms]]). That's an environmental footprint avoided. | ||
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* '''Hard problems:''' | * '''Hard problems:''' | ||
** Manufacturing enough solar panels without needing too many rare [[minerals]] | ** Manufacturing enough solar panels without needing too many rare [[minerals]] | ||
** [[Recycling solar panels]] at their end-of-life | ** [[solar panel recycling|Recycling solar panels]] at their end-of-life | ||
** [[Energy storage]] | ** [[Energy storage]] | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Assume we find a way to manufacture this many solar panels [[solar | Assume we find a way to manufacture this many solar panels [[solar challenge 1|without overrunning our mineral reserves]]. How much energy could we generate? | ||
{{dp | {{dp | ||
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In simple terms, this means we could just about meet the world's energy demand, with solar alone. {{ | In simple terms, this means we could just about meet the world's energy demand, with solar alone. {{p|Less energy would be available if the solar panels were less efficient due to using fewer minerals.<br /><br />Energy ''demand'' could also decrease, given certain factors:<br />- [[walkability]] and [[public transit]]<br />- voluntary [[frugalism]] in the western world especially<br />- [[electric vehicles]] as long as they don't take too much energy to manufacture<br /><br />Energy demand could also ''increase'', given other factors:<br />- more nations becoming 'developed' in a way that copies the current western world<br /><br />For all intents and purposes, let's assume that all these factors would balance each other out, roughly.}} | ||
However, some of the energy might be generated in the wrong places. Low-density cities/towns may generate too much; high-density cities may not generate enough. | However, some of the energy might be generated in the wrong places. Low-density cities/towns may generate too much; high-density cities may not generate enough. | ||