Replies to post #4269 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Chris McConnel]

During the energy crisis in 2000 in California, i was reading an article in the LA Times, about a lot of companies jumping into the solar/wind business, setuping up shop in Neveda, to supply California with power it lacked.

Not sure what happened with these projects, but what i found interesting at the time was just how ineffecient transmission lines are. The article stated that 70% of the power was lost from the long distance transmission lines. To me, it seemed like converting the power to hyrdogen, and use pipe lines to bring the hydrogen to the California would have made better sense.

[Koikaze]

Zeev, I've often wondered why it would not be economical to build solar generators, just offshore. There is arid land adjacent to large bodies of water in many parts of the world, and I have the impression (however inaccurate it may be) that those areas have a preponderence of direct sunlight.

Focussing huge concentrators (magnifying glasses?), articulated to follow the sun, on a large vat, could generate steam to run a turbine and the condensate would provide potable water. Such a system would provide two valuable things, electrical energy and water. The problems of tide and eliminating the residue should not be insurmountable.

Clearly, if it were a good idea, we'd be doing it. But I've often wondered what makes it a bad idea. Can you enlighten me?

Fred