PV Gap

Kim Said:

Are there plans to build Solar energy plants and wind farms on the same land?

We Answered:

Of course its possible but think about it: You want to locate wind farms where it is consistantly windy most days of the year and the stronger the winds are the better. OTOH, you want to locate solar panels where the sun shines longest and strongest.

These two conditions are rarely co-existant. Wind farms located off the coast of Massachusetts generate a lot of electricity but are frequently in overcast conditions. The sun shines strong in the desert but the air is nearly calm by comparison most of the day, not conducive to wind power generation.

I suppose if you can find a windy, sunny place you can have both projects co-existing, but you still need to leave room and seperation so that each can be serviced and maintained by workmen with equipment.

Ocean going sailboats carry both wind and solar power generation systems to keep batterys charged, but usually only one system is producing while the other is near idling.

Whenever you "harvest" something you need to locate in an area where your "crop" can proliferate. Both solar and wind are only marginally efficient processes at best (I believe solar is about 16% efficient) under ideal conditions. Operating a marginal process at a marginal location makes the technique unsubstantial, which is to say it may cost more to build and operate the apparatus than it ever will be capable of generating over its lifetime. The optimum conditions for solar and wind are not exclusive, but rarely occur in the same place.

Clifton Said:

Can America's energy supply run without any nuclear power, using only wind and solar energy plants?

We Answered:

Currently, no, because we don't have the delivery technology or a national grid.

But that is no reason to not *start* doing it; why should we be reliant on an energy source that has a finite quantity?

And re Feinstein's comment, she didn't say that she was only concerned about the "aesthetics" of the project; her objection was that the land in question had been donated or purchased by conservationists with the intent that they would be protected forever, not used for energy projects.

Hugh Said:

How many mile square Solar Energy Plants would be needed to power the world today?

We Answered:

The entire world.

June Said:

Why did the government put a two year moratorium on solar energy plants?

We Answered:

let's just start building the next generation nuke plants today!

france get 80% of their power from that source and they're doing fine

thank you very much!

edit: forgot to mention that nuke power emits ZERO

greenhouse gasses!

Eugene Said:

What are the Government's plans and subsidies for Solar Energy Plants. Who are authorised bodies to contact?

We Answered:

Please see the GOI circular No.3/1/2005/UICA (SE) dated: 27th September 2006 from
Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources[Urban, Industrial & Commercial Applications] at the below web page,

http://www.mnre.gov.in/pdf/cap-subsidy-a…