How much land will PV need to supply our electricity?

[oneoff]

Every bonce in a while a person should try in a shoe on the opposite foot...just to see how it fits.

Chuck says not one additional acre needs to be requisitioned; suitable sites surround us already.

Well there's an opportunity to at least brainstorm about two individual 10MW PV sites. I challenge everyone and anyone to suggest what might be viewed an actual site partnered with SaskPower (who is the only game in town when it comes to an electrical generating grid system in Sask).

My preference would be a reclaimed strip mining area; already properly sloped; and it being close to high voltage transmission lines; existing infrastructure; tradespersons to run it; facilities that will be decommissioned prior to 2030 that provide room for future new forms of generating capacity. Estevan may or may not be the "Sunshine Capital" but is likely to be as good as any. Sask Power even has their own option which the successful proponent could choose if they wish...or even if they run into land acquisition problems themselves..

To put chuck on the spot...what have you got to suggest that is much better?. No reprints from other countries allowed. This test has to show your true creativity.

Others please show we're not all luddites and are open to testing alternatives that might someday be ready for some implementation on its own merits.

[chuckChuck]

Estevan would be a good choice to look at for a solar plant on a large scale. It is the sunniest place in Canada. There is already lots of electrical transmission lines. They need jobs, as they have been hit hard by the fall in oil prices.

[furrowtickler]

Put the solar power where it's needed - in the cities. Utilize exsisting buildings, roof tops and all south facing sides.
If this tech gets as efficient as stated why use exsisting power grid that is very venerable to weather and possible solar flares. One good sized solar flare like what happened in the late 1800's and The exsisting power grid is toast. It will happen eventually.

[oneoff]

OK. Estevan it is.


Now to further your claim that not one new acre need be acquired for siting this "10Mw" PV solar project.

Which parking lot do you have in mind? Which highway barrier walls are available? Which suburb has those tens of acres of roofs facing the optimum direction; sloped appropriately and constructed to support those solar panels? Who's going to shovel the snow; window wash the bird droppings, pay for the insurance; install the necessary wiring etc.

And it wouldn't hurt to have some additional options when highways says "lines of sight" are safety concerns, vandals throw beer bottles from vehicles for target practice.; building codes must be observed; insurance and liability gets brought up.....
and finally no repeating my idea that some Sask Power reclaimed pasturefield would be a good first choice.

[chuckChuck]

I think furrow is right put the Solar PV on existing roofs as this will help reduce the costs of building new transmission lines. But larger sites are also possible.

There are lots of unused areas of unused low value land that would be suitable. In our case I am thinking that I will put my ground mount system on the south side of a farm yard shelterbelt with no obstructions.

I like ground mount as the can be seasonally adjusted and they are easier to clean if needed.

[chuckChuck]

According to US Government NREL lab it does seem like finding spaces is such a big issue.

"In the United States, cities and residences cover about 140 million acres of land. We could supply every kilowatt-hour of our nation’s current electricity requirements simply by applying PV to 7% of this area—on roofs, on parking lots, along highway walls, on the sides of buildings, and in other dual-use scenarios. We wouldn’t have to appropriate a single acre of new land to make PV our primary energy source!"

[chuckChuck]

If finding space or suitable places for solar pv is difficult is it any more difficult that existing energy supplies?

How much land does the coal mining, oil industry, hydro electric generating stations, transmission lines use and how do they get access to the land?

I would argue that it easier to find space for solar PV as it can go on existing structures. Many farm buildings in Europe have solar PV installed.

[seabass]

Looney tunes is on Sat morning stick to that. Lol! No problems using solar just not by itself. We'd be living back in the forties here again. Full circle hey!

[chuckChuck]

As far as all the cleaning and maintenance required for solar PV, what electrical generation system doesn't require service, maintenance, and replacement?

Solar PV will have these costs as well. are they higher cost than coal fired? I doubt it.

The major advantage is solar energy from the sun is a free, clean, infinite fuel supply, unless god imposes a tax on it!

Why don't we try to get the numbers and see what they look like before we argue about it for numerous posts? Or would that take the fun out of it?

The LCOE and the other measure of costing you mentioned before of various electricity options should be a guide, but specific numbers will be difficult to get.

[chuckChuck]

Seabass who said that we are going to be using solar by itself? Nobody on agriville has said that, so stick to the facts.

[oneoff]

Soon someone is going to ask how exactly that neigbours PV panel project turned out. There are so very few of them; and they are so conspicuous that no one has to ask who we are talking about. (windmills and a quarter mile or geater PV solar panels for example).

That would be very useful information; but make no mistake; anybody who thinks it should be provided for free and to anyone interested in "picking other people's minds " should be told that nowhere in law or common decency is there any obligation to allow yourself to be used for purposes of ridicule, proving your stupidity or poor path you have mistakenly gone down.

On the other hand; many will tell all they know; and then some; except that whichmight cause obvious personal problems and would aid in others not repeating trying the same path and expecting different results.

That requires tact and proving something of some sort of worth in return would be reciprocated; otherwise both parties will get very little from the exercise.

What can/will be shared?

[oneoff]

UnworKable in real world of rural Sask?

In the United States, cities and residences cover about 140
million acres of land. We could supply every kilowatt-hour
of our nation’s current electricity requirements simply by
applying PV to
7% of this area—on roofs, on parking lots,
along highway
walls, on the sides of buildings, and in other
dual-use scenarios. We wouldn’t have to appropriate a single
acr
e of new land to make PV our primary energy source! Reply With Quote