Taking energy from space that would have missed the earth, and beaming it down, will increase global warming. But how much? I've been hunting around for research on the effects on global warming of energy from space-based solar, nuclear power and the like, but haven't found much. I would appreciate it if anyone could point me at any information on this subject.
Space-based solar, and nuclear power, do have the advantage over fossil fuels that they don't generate greenhouse gasses. But they do introduce energy into our environment that wouldn't otherwise be there.
Truly renewable power systems (terrestrial solar, wind, hydro, tidal, biofuel) use energy already in our environment, so don't contribute to global warming.
It strikes me as ironic that the two major proposals for space-based projects related to global warming have opposite effects: spaced-based solar power will increase the amount of energy received from space, while the "solar sunshade" proposals would reduce it.
Any energy added to the earth contributes to global warming.
All electrical energy, when used, eventually winds up as heat. Adding energy to the earth from space (be it orbital power plants, or this scheme on the moon), or even by fusion power, will result in warming the planet.
Earth-based solar power installations use energy that is already heating the earth, so they don't contribute to the problem in the way orbital or lunar power installations would.
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Taking energy from space that would have missed the earth, and beaming it down, will increase global warming. But how much? I've been hunting around for research on the effects on global warming of energy from space-based solar, nuclear power and the like, but haven't found much. I would appreciate it if anyone could point me at any information on this subject.
Space-based solar, and nuclear power, do have the advantage over fossil fuels that they don't generate greenhouse gasses. But they do introduce energy into our environment that wouldn't otherwise be there.
Truly renewable power systems (terrestrial solar, wind, hydro, tidal, biofuel) use energy already in our environment, so don't contribute to global warming.
It strikes me as ironic that the two major proposals for space-based projects related to global warming have opposite effects: spaced-based solar power will increase the amount of energy received from space, while the "solar sunshade" proposals would reduce it.
Any energy added to the earth contributes to global warming.
All electrical energy, when used, eventually winds up as heat. Adding energy to the earth from space (be it orbital power plants, or this scheme on the moon), or even by fusion power, will result in warming the planet.
Earth-based solar power installations use energy that is already heating the earth, so they don't contribute to the problem in the way orbital or lunar power installations would.