Space-based solar power is getting serious–can it solve Earth’s energy woes?

Re:Space-based solar power is getting serious–can it solve E... by gwbas1c on Sunday October 23, 2022 @10:14AM (#33307184)

Can this somehow beam power in such a way that we can direct it to the parts of the planet that are currently in the winter and need it for heat?

I didn't find a mention of seasons, winter, cold, heating. (I skimmed the beginning of the article.)

The biggest obstacle to solar is the seasons: We use the most energy in the winter (for heating,) but most of the sunlight comes during the summer. There are locations in the far north where there is simply no sunlight at all during the "day."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Space-based solar power is getting serious–can it solve E... by tpudlik on Sunday October 23, 2022 @11:13AM (#33307613)

Relatively little energy is actually used for heating and cooling. In the UK, a country pretty far north, it's about a fifth of energy use (https://www.withouthotair.com/c7/page_53.shtml), and could be substantially reduced if heating was actually done using electricity (i.e., with heat pumps, rather than direct heating; heat pumps are available with "efficiency" exceeding 400%, e http://www.withouthotair.com/c21/page_140.shtml, but of course require electricity to run, while most heating today is done by directly burning fuel).

Seasons are definitely not "the biggest obstacle to solar". That would be the night and especially the weather.

[ Parent | on HN ]