Re:California Is Sitting on the Solution to Its Drought Problem
by dpark on Thursday June 18, 2015 @12:38PM
(#9739798)
> if the same solar can't be used for other purposes
This is a pretty reasonable assumption, since the solar in use would presumably be built out specifically for the desalination. The solar capacity in the scenario wouldn't exist unless it were used for desalination, because it wouldn't be built.
I have no real opinion on the economic feasibility of large-scale desalination, but it seems reasonable to assume that someone building a desalination facility in California can get the sunshine they need onsite, without taking energy from existing solar sources.
This is a pretty reasonable assumption, since the solar in use would presumably be built out specifically for the desalination. The solar capacity in the scenario wouldn't exist unless it were used for desalination, because it wouldn't be built.
I have no real opinion on the economic feasibility of large-scale desalination, but it seems reasonable to assume that someone building a desalination facility in California can get the sunshine they need onsite, without taking energy from existing solar sources.