Significant solar power plant projects are being considered in locations like California and New Mexico where there is significant sunshine. It is therefore reasonable to consider the overall effectiveness and practicality of solar power plants on a large scale. How much can solar power be used to provide for America’s energy base?

The proposed answer is simple. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar solar power stations can not create the output of a fossil fuel power station. The energy trapped in coal, natural gas, and diesel fuel is very concentrated and very potent. Combustion fuels will continue to outperform the renewables market for as long as carbon based fuel prices remain low.

Combustible fuels can be thought of concentrated and stored solar energy from millenia before and in that sense are not really a bad thing. Without combustion, we would be without many modern technological developments, and we could not support our industrial base.

Most of our comforts and commercial activities are founded on several industries. This foundation includes the mining of ores from the Earth, and the manufacturing of raw materials such as aluminum, iron, steel, copper, and more. It includes manufacturing plants for automobiles, airplanes, tools, machinery, advanced electronics, and just about every other gizmo we use on a regular basis. It also includes large machinery required for harvesting lumber and other agricultural products.

The reality is our regular daily lives are very electricity intensive. This energy consumption is rooted in the infrastructure that bolsters our economy and our existence and the reality is it is supported by energy generated through combustion.

And here is the fundamental problem with large solar power plants. They can’t supply adequate energy to support America’s industrial base. This does not mean they are irrelevant or undesireable. It just means solar power systems make the most sense when used in residential and small commercial applications where energy consumption is moderate.

As an example, a 500 MegaWatt combustion power plant can fit in a relatively small space, less than a 1/4 square mile without much difficulty. When considering a photovoltaic solar power plant, nearly 1,140 acres (almost 2 square miles) of solar panels would have to be installed to equal this same capacity. This is 2 square miles of actual solar panels, and does not account for the mounting and maintenance space. Being that solar panels provide peak power only 5 to 7 hours per day, then apples to apples we’re only getting the total output with more than eight times the space!

Where the weather and sunshine justify the use of solar power we need to integrate this useful power source into our energy portfolio. We must pay homage, however, to our modern combustion technologies. Modern combustion systems are cleaner and more efficient than ever before, and provide enormous amounts of power 24 hours a day. The energy density of fossil fuels is just to high to ignore when it comes to powering America’s industrial base.

Want to find out more about solar power, then visit Jim’s site on how to choose the best solar power for your needs.

Related posts:

1. Facts about Solar Energy and Solar Power Plants The earth receives more than enough energy from the sun...
2. How To Find The Best Industrial Heater Manufacturer? Heat energy is used for numerous purposes at an industry....
3. Solar Power For Homes And Its Advantages Contemporary technologies can perform a lot of excellent things. One...
4. Bio Fuels – Stay On Top Of The Upcoming Trends The future of biomass as an energy seed is enormous:...
5. What Is A Windmill And How Can I Build One? If you are not familiar with a windmill, it is...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.