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From: north@manta.NOSC.MIL (Mark H. North)
Newsgroups: sci.energy,sci.electronics,sci.physics
Subject: Re: solar cells
Message-ID: <1569@manta.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 2 Jan 91 22:20:01 GMT
References: <1990Dec31.171413.18138@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> <1990Dec31.220520.27738@zoo.toronto.edu> <37448@cup.portal.com> <1991Jan2.015717.23554@amd.com> <37487@cup.portal.com>
Reply-To: north@manta.nosc.mil.UUCP (Mark H. North)
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 19

This subject has always intrigued me. I did a little research some time
back and found --

Using commercially available solar cells we could produce all the energy
we (USA) now consume with about 10000 sq mi of 10 watt panels. The cost
would be on the order of 100 trillion dollars (yes, that's a T). That's a
big number but my question is this: Presumably such a project would take
tens of years to complete so the cost would be amortized over many years.
How can we determine if we can afford it based on GNP and all that. I've
done the calculation for my energy use and my house and found that it
would double the cost of my house (I have a fairly expensive house). If it's
possible for me as an individual (though painful) it should be possible for
a country as a whole, no? Particularly when amortized over a hundred years
or so.

BTW, if anyone has serious heartburn over my figures I can post them
it's only 10 or 12 lines.

Mark