You guys all missed one tiny detail: in that article they (misleadingly)
specify the width ("1-kilometer-wide" but not the _length_ of the array :) The
hypothetical array would be quite long in fact as it would form a continuous
band at geostationary orbit (cf the actual study group report further down the
page), which seems a little overambitious if that calculation is not just meant
to strike imagination.
Michel
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jed Rothwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Vo]:Interesting stuff in Future Energy eNews
> Robin van Spaandonk wrote:
>
>>"Space-based solar power may become an important energy source as fossil-fuel
>>supplies dwindle in midcentury: A single 1-kilometer-wide solar array could
>>collect enough power in a year to rival the entire world's oil reserves."
>>
>>This is wrong. It would in fact only produce enough to cover the oil usage of
>>the US alone for about a day.
>
> Yes, I noticed that number is wrong. I posted some info on space
> based generation some month ago.
>
> Anyway, it does have the potential to supply all energy on earth with
> very little ground based infrastructure, and the collection grids on
> the ground could be built on top of grass and plants. The incoming
> beam would not harm people, wildlife or plants, so it is a big plus.
> I think it is the most promising alternative, except for cold fusion.
>
> - Jed
>
