Solar Power in the Desert
I was always curious as to why more use wasn't made of solar energy in the desert, seems the ideal place. Article on the BBC website explains all http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2012...ers-dirty-side Basically sandstorms and how to clean up afterwards was the problem which appears to have been solved. KSA plans to invest a staggering $109bn over the next 20 years into solar, with the intention of generating more than 30% of their electricity from the sun - up from practically zero today. It is all part of the government’s plan to break the country’s oil dependency and give it a long term future after the oil reserves eventually run dry.
Wow! |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Yup - Aramco are recruiting heavily at the moment for Mech Engs with Renewables experience!
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Re: Solar Power in the Desert
I installed one of the largest arrays of solar panels in Riyadh, and it just doesn't work. the cleaning issue is only one side of it, the panels themselves don't last long enough to pay back their investment. There are huge losses in the system and of course energy storage isn't possible unless you convert it to some other form and then back again.
Anyhow I am all for them wasting their money on this, just its a pity they don't put it into research for answers than pursuing the existing technology. They are already grabbing concepts of LEED (total horseshit) lean management (more horseshit especially in the middle east)and sustainable developement in a typically saudi way, by name only. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Renewables will never work here until they lift the subsidies off the tariffs.
Why produce power for 20cents/kwh when you can produce it for 3cents/kwh with non-renewables. Plus as weasel implies, this region isn't actually that suitable for solar. Yes, it's sunny, but it's also ****ing hot and dusty. Much better in Algeria, Morocco etc. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by mikewot
(Post 10391951)
It is all part of the government’s plan to break the country’s oil dependency and give it a long term future after the oil reserves eventually run dry. Wow!
Wasn't there a nuclear option on the table as well? |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by Millhouse
(Post 10392861)
Much better in Algeria, Morocco etc.
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Re: Solar Power in the Desert
I reckon we could capture all the hot air (read: bollocks) coming out of every single Middle Eastern country and power something with that.
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Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by the_red_sheep
(Post 10393565)
That'd the Desertec project that was due to be built across North Africa and supply 150MW to Europe, but it's starting to fall apart. A couple of the main technology suppliers (Bosch and Siemens I think) have pulled out, and the financial crisis in Europe means that countries like Spain are struggling to come up with the required investment - $bns in the short term and several hundred $bns in the longer term.
If they are spending billions for 150MW then the case (for not doing it) is clear. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by Millhouse
(Post 10392861)
Renewables will never work here until they lift the subsidies off the tariffs.
Why produce power for 20cents/kwh when you can produce it for 3cents/kwh with non-renewables. Plus as weasel implies, this region isn't actually that suitable for solar. Yes, it's sunny, but it's also ****ing hot and dusty. Much better in Algeria, Morocco etc. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Nuclear power is the way forward, if it can be judged without the scare mongering normally associated with it. The French nuclear fission project is also very interesting, (if they ever get it built) and would completely alter the energy generation business.
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Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by weasel decentral
(Post 10393714)
Nuclear power is the way forward, if it can be judged without the scare mongering normally associated with it. The French nuclear fission project is also very interesting, (if they ever get it built) and would completely alter the energy generation business.
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Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by weasel decentral
(Post 10393714)
Nuclear power is the way forward, if it can be judged without the scare mongering normally associated with it. The French nuclear fission project is also very interesting, and would completely alter the energy generation business.
I assume you mean fusion, not fission. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by weasel decentral
(Post 10393714)
Nuclear power is the way forward, if it can be judged without the scare mongering normally associated with it. The French nuclear fission project is also very interesting, (if they ever get it built) and would completely alter the energy generation business.
If we stopped ****ing about and actually gave governmental support to renewables in a proper way they are not only viable but THE only sensible option. the entire global ecosystem is powered by either solar power or geothermal power, our problem isnt energy supply its energy capture, storage and transmission. we also have to get over the obsession that solar means photovoltaic, there are numerous solar technologies and photovoltaic is the least efficient by a huge margin. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by weasel decentral
(Post 10393714)
Nuclear power is the way forward, if it can be judged without the scare mongering normally associated with it. The French nuclear fission project is also very interesting, (if they ever get it built) and would completely alter the energy generation business.
Mine is kindama. That's Japanese for "bollocks". Although it has been admitted (and was well known by outsiders anyway) that cultural problems in respect of H&S and the reluctance to challenge those in authority had a major part to play in the Fukushima disaster, nonetheless Japan is populated by intelligent, diligent and resourceful people, and is a country that is unlikely to suffer physical inteference from its neighbours or from terrorists (a few religious nutters excepted). But a nuclear power plant in this part of the word? You must be joking. |
Re: Solar Power in the Desert
Originally Posted by Millhouse
(Post 10393800)
I assume you mean fusion, not fission. |
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