Existing Solar Tech Could Power Entire US, Says NREL

derekmead writes "A new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds that solar holds more potential to generate more power (PDF) than any other clean energy source. The NREL broke things down into four groups: urban and rural utility-scale photovoltaics (giant solar plants, basically) as well as rooftop solar and concentrated mirror arrays. Between those technologies, which are all already on the market, the NREL reckons there's a proven potential for solar to hit a capacity of 200,000 gigawatts in the United States alone. For some perspective, 1 gigawatt is what a single nuclear power plant might generate, and it's more than most coal plants. A gigawatt of capacity is enough to power approximately 700,000 homes."

Comments

You'll Have To Claw That Oil Out Of My Cold Dead..

[MightyMartian]

Don't bother us with your pathetic alternative energies. We have to burn every fucking ounce of long-chain hydrocarbons, use up every ounce of radioactive ore, burn every ounce of methane and other simple hydrocarbon, before we even consider your pathetic green hippy alternative energy sources. Only fags and Commies believe in generating electricity by anything other than CO2-vomiting power plants. Oh, and CO2 is totally harmless, no matter how fucking much of it you puke out.

God bless oil! The only way oil could be better is if I could fuck or eat it! Now get off my lawn, you pathetic Marxist hippies.

gigawatt...ho hum

[CrowdedBrainzzzsand9]

1 gigawatt is what a single nuclear power plant might generate, and it's more than most coal plants

On the other hand, that's barely enough for one jump back to the future.

Pshaw

[PopeRatzo]

Like these so-called scientists know anything. I heard on the radio today that solar energy is baloney and if the radio says it, then that's plenty good enough for me and anybody who says different is obviously biased.

Re:We will get solar when there's a profit.

[norpy]

I think he is referring to the EV you will have recharging in there?

Or maybe he uses his garage as a grow room

Re:We will get solar when there's a profit.

[davester666]

Just build the fucking Dyson Sphere and be done with it.