We have space on our houses, to protect us from rain and sun.
kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 days ago
If you have the space. Solar needs a lot more space for the same power output.
monkdervierte@lemmy.zip@lemmy.zip 3 days ago
potpotato@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Completely ignoring the mining part
Sticking coal power generation on your roof, are ye?
antimongo@lemmy.world 3 days ago
From a power-generated-per-area perspective, PV is about 500x less dense than a modern gas-fired combined cycle.
Why does that matter? Solar can go where coal can’t.
Put PV above a parking lot, you’re not using that land for anything else useful anyway.
Lotta places it can go. Doesn’t matter if it takes up more space.
Coal and gas plants can only go in specific spots. Need a water supply, needs logistics, needs a clear zone to vent. So it needs more space than a trivial accounting would indicate.
antimongo@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Solar can go in more diverse locations, absolutely. Especially advantageous because solar can be installed right on top of the buildings that need electricity. Lowers dependence on already-overloaded transmission lines.
Just from a utility perspective, it’s a lot simpler, easier to buy a plot of industrial zoned land, and stick a combined cycle on it. This is enough to power an entire medium city, 24/7.
Compared to logistically working with a massive number of private property owners to install solar on their property. And the result of all that work is enough to power the same city from 7 in the morning to 7 at night.
Octavio@piefed.social 3 days ago
Are you counting the space taken up by the gas wells, transportation infrastructure, and storage facilities?