Why don't we stick solar panels all over the worlds deserts to catch sunlight?

Question

Why don't we stick solar panels all over the worlds deserts to catch sunlight?

Answer 1

Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy available to us. To supply worlds energy we do not even need to stick solar panels on all the deserts. We need to use only a small part of these deserts. This page shows where you can install the panels in the world to supply all the power needed.

See http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/...

The only problem we face now is that solar panels cost a lot to manufacture. This is what is stopping us from sticking solar panels in the deserts. Just to supply power to one house we would need to spend around $16000 to install solar panels. (see http://www.howstuffworks.com/question418... To cover all the houses in the world, it would be quite a challenge (most people in the developing world earn less than $1000 in an entire year !).

Answer 2

There are a lot of different factors.

Solar energy is still relatively new so there is a cost factor.

Deserts have sand storms which could damage the collection agents.  Sand is a very invasive thing and would get into any parts that were set up in the desert.  It would be very difficult and time consuming to make sure that all of the units were working properly and not covered by sand, meaning that you would have to have people constantly in the desert taking care of them.

Connecting the solar panels to the grid from the desert would take time and money since most deserts aren't populated.  It would be smarter just to come up with a viable roofing unit that was sturdy and not easily damaged and just start roofing with solar panels in populated areas that are already on a power grid.

Answer 3

cost

and impracticality of covering the deserts

but solar energy costs a LOT so most people are reluctant to switch.

Answer 4

like this?

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-so...

http://www.desertec.org/concept.html

Answer 5

Costs: costs to build them and place them;

More costs to send the electricity from the deserts to where people live.

It is irony that people live where it is best suited to grow crops, yet hundreds of millions of people worldwide starve to death.

Answer 6

dude your a genious start e-mailing scientists or something thats so simple it just might work omg!!!!!!!!!!111111

Answer 7

ive asked the same question

but get this, if we put solar panels on only 10% of nevadas land, it could power the whole united states!

Answer 8

Mark my words,  if they do?  then someone will have a fit for the Cacti being bothered, along with the rattlers, scorpion

Answer 9

If the sun decided one day that it didn't feel like coming out, then the whole worlds electricity would shut down!