Comment This Does Not Help With Global Warming (Score 1) 198
While the idea of space based solar power does present some interesting potential benefits it does not help alleviate the thermodynamic issue we are presently experiencing. Global warming is thought to be caused by two major factors: A) That existing energy (heat) is being trapped on Earth by a layer of "greenhouse gasses" (which prevent the energy from radiating back into space) and B) Potential energy stores (such as fossil fuel) are being converted into kinetic energy (heat) at a greater rate than energy dissipation can occur.
Space based solar arrays may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supplying energy in a way that does not produce more greenhouse gases, so that might be a win. However, piping more energy into the system (Earth) from outside the system (sunlight captured in orbit which would have normally not reached the surface, and redirecting it to the surface) will only increase the issue of the Earth not being able to dissipate energy into space fast enough, and there will be an overall gain in energy within the system, continuing the global warming phenomenon.
On the other hand, using ground based solar arrays do not introduce any additional energy into the system (capturing light that would have made it to the ground already). There are vast swaths of land and water on this Earth which are bombarded by sunlight, ready to be harnessed. No matter how the captured solar energy is used, it will inevitably end up as heat (infrared radiation) so even if it is just the normal desert ground soaking it up, or a solar array converting it to electricity, there is no additional energy entering the system, thus no additional contribution to the global warming issue.
This is basic thermodynamics, and I hope people which are thinking of "alternative energy sources" will consider the impact of their ideas on the system at large.
Space based solar arrays may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supplying energy in a way that does not produce more greenhouse gases, so that might be a win. However, piping more energy into the system (Earth) from outside the system (sunlight captured in orbit which would have normally not reached the surface, and redirecting it to the surface) will only increase the issue of the Earth not being able to dissipate energy into space fast enough, and there will be an overall gain in energy within the system, continuing the global warming phenomenon.
On the other hand, using ground based solar arrays do not introduce any additional energy into the system (capturing light that would have made it to the ground already). There are vast swaths of land and water on this Earth which are bombarded by sunlight, ready to be harnessed. No matter how the captured solar energy is used, it will inevitably end up as heat (infrared radiation) so even if it is just the normal desert ground soaking it up, or a solar array converting it to electricity, there is no additional energy entering the system, thus no additional contribution to the global warming issue.
This is basic thermodynamics, and I hope people which are thinking of "alternative energy sources" will consider the impact of their ideas on the system at large.
