Solar farming

[matthewbim11]

So most of the ocean is not in use. We can not power the whole USA even if every house had solar on the roof. So what we do is put a BIG patch of solar panels out at sea and not have a power line, but barges that have huge battery banks on them and they switch out at the solar rig.


Discuss.

[Ad Bot]

[Dexxtter]

if each house had a enough solar panels on the roof to sustain itself i don't see the problem

[matthewbim11]

I remember reading an article about solar that said if the entire roof had solar panels on it, it still would not cover all the power requirements of that house.

[Dexxtter]

I remember reading an article about solar that said if the entire roof had solar panels on it, it still would not cover all the power requirements of that house.

wouldnt that depend on how big it is, how many electrical appliances it has, and how many people live there and their habits with using power

[matthewbim11]

Total US gw usage
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9671
786 gw

Maximum solar potential http://helixrecruiting.com/helix-recruiting-solar-david-anthony
712 gw

[Dexxtter]

i was thinking on a per house level not the entire nation.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/run-house-on-solar-power.htm

[Ceist]

solar power would be to expensive and problematic to build in the ocean. you're better off building hydroelectric systems instead, to maximize electrical generation, especially in the atlantic during hurricane season. it also ceases some of the power from a hurricane, so it doesn't damage the mainland as much.

[devildogelite]

Putting solar panels on individual houses is a good idea. However putting enough to completely cover your own needs and generate excess is kind of an awful idea. Atleast right now, it causes so many problems.

[Operator¹]

doesn't it cost more money to make a solar panel than it will generate in its lifetime

[Doughboy]

why dont we just cover the sun in solar panels

[e-maxx]

why don't we just use all the extra Chinese people and make them turn a big crank connected to a generator

[Blockzillahead]

solar power may be renewable but its extremely inefficient

[Hiok1998]

Nuclear power is cool too.

[Harm94]

solar power may be renewable but its extremely inefficient

Also how are you going to heat up your water on a cold day when the sun is blocked by clouds or a night?

[$trinick]

Because darkening a huge patch of the ocean totally wouldn't have catastrophic effects on the ecosystem below.