/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10119427
>>10120955
It is already on large scales in some countries. It will only get larger. I think it is the least resource intensive power generation aside from hydro. You don't have the same inputs as solar panels require and in the same square area you can produce more energy than solar 24/7. Since the bulk of the work done in the biogas system comes from microbes, the energy inputs are only waste products. Those waste products produce biogas and high nitrogen fertilizer. Because of the microbes, you get more out of it than you are putting into it, due to what amounts to as microbial slavery.

>>10124102
>>10123701
>>10122211
Solar panels typically use aluminum, cadmium, copper, gallium, indium, iron, lead, nickel, silica, silver, tellurium, tin and zinc. The use of these things isn't that bad, but the processing and mining of them can be quite hazardous to the environment. The end of the life of the panel can also be a hazardous point.

>>10124851
>>10124301
>>10124874
>>10126177
>>10128880
>>10126161
Raising the panels higher up into the air helps increase the amount of diffused and ambient light to reach the ground. Still there's diminishing returns. It is far better to have the panels on all the unused rooftop space. That will even help reduce transmission losses since the buildings are what needs the power in the first place, not some pasture land.

Some types of farming can work with solar, but then you'll have power lines all over the fucking place. Rabbit farming using rabbit tractors can have solar panels on them. Rabbits are farmed in cages with solar panels on top. The cages are moved along the ground of pasture land. The cages get moved at least twice a day as the pasture is eaten. It is quite efficient, but you'd need to design a good way to keep the power transmission lines from being a problem. I don't see it happening outside small DIY farms.

>>10135972
>>10127563
Subsidies are a thing and all power companies in all types compete for them.