Solar Power Possibility?

Solar power is being used more and more in buildings of all types to provide some or all of the energy the building requires. It seems likely that solar power could play a much bigger role in the US energy mix.

A new type of solar cell can produce a peak power of 210 watts per square meter. When averaged over 24 hours and all four seasons, the power available in the continental US would be about 35 watts per square meter. While 35 watts is not very much, compared to what the US uses, solar could nevertheless make a big contribution. A square mile of solar cells, as an example, could generate 0.119 megawatts average, day and night, all year long, with no cost for fuel. A 10-square-mile group of solar cells (about 2.8 miles on a side) could generate a little over a megawatt, which is the equivalent of a small coal- or gas-fired electric generating plant. (Large plants may generate more than 1,000 megawatts.) During periods of strong sunlight, the power generated would actually be closer to 7 megawatts, and drop to zero during darkness.

It is generally not considered practical to devote that much land to a power plant. But what if 10-square-mile islands of solar cells were floated on lakes and oceans? Lake Michigan, for example, covers 28,300 square miles; a 10-square-mile island would not make much of a dent in its capacity for shipping and fishing. A couple of 10-square-mile islands near a small town could supply much of the power it needs.

Reasonably full usage of the solar power would require some method of energy storage. One of the simplest ways would be to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can be done just by passing the electricity through the water The hydrogen could be pumped to shore or stored in tanks for later collection by ships. The hydrogen could be used in fuel cells in cars and power plants, or burned for heat and pure water.

Is such a system economically feasible? The fuel supply is infinite and free. Costing of such a system should consider environmental costs as well as construction, maintenance, and operation. Fossil fuels release carbon-dioxide to the atmosphere, as does ethanol. Sea water also contains dissolved metals, including gold, which might be recovered as a by-product.

Solar islands would float on the surface of the water and would be subject to winds and storms, but the islands could be made submergible during high winds. The islands could be held in place by anchor or by using electrically driven propellors.

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