Someone cast Wolven Winter on New Orleans!

[chrispedersen]

The ability to transmit power will affect *any* power technology.

Generally speaking, the amount of power received *insolation* is about 1KW/m2, in full sunlight. New Hampshire, and other places, only get that for about 25% of the time. The conversion efficiency is 10-20%, although kyocera has gotten up to 40% in the lab.

So, photovoltaic cells covering 3.28 feet by 3.28 feet on your roof, will generate enough power (after conversion to AC) to power *one* lightbulb.

I have a 2400 sq ft house - call it 250 meters squared. I live in florida - great spot for solar, right? So I could generate roughly 25kW of power, roughly 150kW per day. if I totally cover my house in solar panels. Cost of doing that - after state and local subsidies last time I checked was $28,000 with an expected life of 10 years. Total cost was probably 40,000 but I didn't actually have access to the amount of benefit given.

Only problem is - my yearly consumption of power runs about $1800. Which is why, even in florida people are not rushing out to buy solar panels.

Which is why I stand by my assertion that photovoltaics will never make a significant dent in northern climes.

The fact that you can transmit power, means you can transmit power generated by other mechanisms as well.

[krpeters]

Since we're talking about global warming *and* solar power... let's take it to the next level. Parabolic Space Mirrors. Too cold for you in New Hampshire? *sizzle* Just bake the whole state using a 100-mile wide orbiting mirror. Instant weather control too, fry those clouds as they come in. You might not want to aim one at the eye of a hurricane, though.

Getting back to reality... the most readily available alternative energy source is CONSERVATION. It's a whole lot easier to cut our energy use by 20% (just stop buying SUVs!) than it is to increase the supply by 20%.