Future gigantic solar farms might impact how much solar power can be generated
Future gigantic solar farms might impact how much solar power can be generated
The sun's energy is effectively limitless. While resources such as coal or gas are finite, if you are able to capture and use solar power it doesn't prevent anyone else from also using as much sunshine as they need. Except that isn't quite the full story. Beyond a certain size, solar farms become large enough to affect the weather around them and ultimately the climate as a whole. In our new research published in Communications Earth & Environment, we have looked at the effect such climate-altering solar farms might have on solar power production elsewhere in the world.
Note
what a fascinating hypothetical.
we are unlikely to see 1/5 of the sahara covered in solar panels, but i don't mind the imagination trip.
Published
2024
Summary
The sun's energy is effectively limitless. While resources such as coal or gas are finite, if you are able to capture and use solar power it doesn't prevent anyone else from also using as much sunshine as they need. Except that isn't quite the full story. Beyond a certain size, solar farms become large enough to affect the weather around them and ultimately the climate as a whole. In our new research published in Communications Earth & Environment, we have looked at the effect such climate-altering solar farms might have on solar power production elsewhere in the world.
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