Re:In Ukraine, distributed renewables foil Russia's assaults
by streetfighter64 on Sunday October 04, 2026 @04:24PM
(#49957453)
Well, if you want the solar power to only cover the cars and vans, sure. What about all the trucks needed for transportation?
Re:In Ukraine, distributed renewables foil Russia's assaults
by iso1631 on Monday October 05, 2026 @05:11AM
(#49962410)
Small amount, easilly covered by roof space of commercial buildings.
Cars and vans use 16.5 billion litres of diesel and 15.5 billion litres of petrol
HGVs and busses use 8 billion litres of diesel, about 20% of the total of cars and vans. Agriculture adds another 1.5b and trains half a billion, so call it 10 billion litres, 30% of total fuel use by cars and vans. Push it 50% up from 80TWh to 120TWh if you want and require 15 million roofs
Of course the most economic way to deliver solar isn't by putting it on the roof
> Have you done any calculations as to whether this would actually work?
Yes. All cars and vans in the UK drive a total of 320 billion miles a year. My own electric car tells me this would require 80 billion kWh. 1kWp produces 1000 kWh a year, so you need 80 million kWp or 80 TWh a year.
My house will easily provide 8kWp, meaning you'd need 10 million houses. There's 30 million homes, and that's before you factor in non-domestic buildings.
A single shooting estate in the uk could produce 20TWh a year with solar alone. Throw in wind and that would petty much double.