2023-09-27 04:57:33
Imagen: Zhangyang Shutterstock
Engineer Mehran Moalem proposes creating a 112,000 square kilometer photovoltaic plant in the African desert. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that a solar plant of this scale could generate 17.4 terawatts of energy, enough to power every home in the world.
The study is based on satellite data that measures the intensity of sunlight in the Sahara. The researchers found that the region receives an average amount of 2,600 kilowatt hours per square meter per year.
Economic Viability
Building a solar plant of this scale would be a monumental project and would cost around $5 trillion, benefiting around 4 billion people using clean energy. Thousands of square kilometers of solar panels and a transmission network would be needed to transport the energy to demand centers. Although it is a high-risk project, researchers believe the potential is enormous.
On the other hand, there is a little-mentioned fact: While solar energy is largely clean, the production of solar panels is not so clean. Currently its manufacturing process generates pollution. Furthermore, although the impact on the area’s ecosystem could be minimal, it is a factor that should not be ignored.
Impact and potential
Building a solar plant in the Sahara would have a significant impact on the world’s energy supply. It could help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.
It could also help improve the quality of life and economy of African countries. Construction and maintenance of the solar plant would create jobs and help develop the region’s infrastructure.
Challenges
However, building a solar plant of this scale also poses a number of challenges. One of the main ones is the cost. Building a solar plant of this scale would cost billions of dollars.
Another challenge is the environmental impact. Building a solar plant of this scale would require the removal of vegetation and the construction of infrastructure.
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