To save the planet, we need abundant, cheap energy that nurtures, rather than consumes the biosphere. I'm not talking about saving the planet in little, incremental steps, this solution is robust enough to save the planet all by itself. Calling it a giant leap for mankind is actually quite appropriate. We are now ready, as a civilization, to take that leap. I'll explain after the flip.
The energy from fossil fuels originally came from the Sun. Wind power, hydroelectric power, virtually any energy source you can think of came from either our own Sun or from some other star. Think about it.
What the hell are we still doing burning fossil fuels like cave-men, poisoning our planet, our youth dying in wars over oil? We have all the power we need, a sustained fusion reaction at a safe distance of 8 light minutes. Every day more solar energy falls to the Earth than the total amount of energy the planet's 6.1 billion inhabitants would consume in 27 years! link
Tapping that power is tricky. The rotation of the Earth, clouds, and our atmosphere make it difficult for solar power to account for more than a small fraction of our power supply.
Fortunately, Dr. David R. Criswell, Ph.D has the answer. This is a bold idea, but he is no crackpot. In this testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space Hearings: "Lunar Exploration" on Thursday, November 6, 2003, 2:30 PM - SR-253, Criswell testified:
By 2050, approximately 10 billion people will live on Earth demanding ~5 times the power now available. By then, solar power from the Moon could provide everyone clean, affordable, and sustainable electric power. No terrestrial options can provide the needed minimum of 2 kWe/person or at least 20 terawatts globally.
This is key. There are no terrestrial options- not even uranium, which is in finite supply.
Our national space program, in cooperation with advanced U.S. industries, can produce the LSP System for a small fraction of the cost of building equivalent power generating capabilities on Earth. Shuttle- and Space Station-derived systems and LSP production machinery can be in operation in space and on the Moon within a few years. A demonstration LSP System can grow quickly to 50% of averaged U.S. electric consumption, ~0.2 TWe, within 15 years and be profitable thereafter. When LSP provides 20 terawatts of electric power to Earth it can sell the electricity at one-fifth of today's cost or ~1 ¢/kWe-h. At current electric prices LSP would generate ~9 trillion dollars per year of net income.
Take that, Middle East. The U.S. would become the primary exporter of energy to the globe, at prices that put prosperity within the reach of every person on the planet. No more wars for oil. A trade surplus, GDP rises 9 trillion a year.
Solar power bases will be built on the Moon that collect a small fraction of the Moon's dependable solar power and convert it into power beams that will dependably deliver lunar solar power to receivers on Earth. On Earth each power beam will be transformed into electricity and distributed, on-demand, through local electric power grids. Each terrestrial receiver can accept power directly from the Moon or indirectly, via relay satellites, when the receiver cannot view the Moon. The intensity of each power beam is restricted to 20%, or less, of the intensity of noontime sunlight. Each power beam can be safely received, for example, in an industrially zoned area.
There has been talk about putting satellites into orbit to collect solar power. They will be heavy and expensive to launch and maintain. Furthermore, in geosynchronous orbit 24,000 miles above the Earth, there is no way to service them. Besides, we have a ready-made satellite, the Moon, ready to go. When a cost-benefit analysis is done, the Moon wins hands down.
The Lunar Solar Power (LSP) System does not require basic new technological developments. Adequate knowledge of the Moon and the essential technologies have been available since the late 1970s to design, build, and operate the LSP System. Automated machines and people would be sent to the Moon to build the lunar power bases. The machines would build the power components from the common lunar dust and rocks, thereby avoiding the high cost of transporting materials from the Earth to the Moon. The LSP System is distributed and open. Thus, it can readily accommodate new manufacturing and operating technologies as they become available.
There is no technological breakthrough to wait for. We can do this now, all we need is the start-up funding and the balls to do it.
...every power receiver on Earth can be an engine of clean economic growth. Gross World Product can increase a factor of 10. The average annual per capita income of Developing Nations can increase from today's $2,500 to ~$20,000. Economically driven emigrations, such as from Mexico and Central America to the United States, will gradually decrease.
Increasingly wealthy Developing Nations will generate new and rapidly growing markets for American goods and services. Lunar power can generate hydrogen to fuel cars at low cost and with no release of greenhouse gases. United States payments to other nations for oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, and commodities such as fertilizer will decrease. LSP industries will establish new, high-value American jobs. LSP will generate major investment opportunities for Americans. The average American income could increase from today's ~$35,000/y-person to more than $150,000/y-person.
This is the vision, people. Prosperity for the entire planet, but not at nature's expense. Peace in our time, as a paradigm of scarcity becomes a paradigm of abundance. The solution to the immigration problem, the solution to global warming without the economic trade-offs- no more dependence on foreign oil, the trade deficit turns positive as we sell the cheap electrical power to anyone, anywhere they build a rectenna to receive it, we pay off the national debt, feed the poor, fully fund education all the way through college, save Social Security, ensure a strong economy and with it a strong military that we'll hopefully never have to use- we Kossacks can make this happen simply by the shrewd application of political pressure. Let's work together to achieve this goal.
Solar power from the Moon- sounds crazy, doesn't it? It is just crazy enough to work.
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The Moon receives 13,000 terawatts of power from the sun. Criswell suggested that harnessing just 1 % of the solar power and directing it toward Earth could replace fossil fuel power plants on Earth.
The Moon has no atmosphere to block sunlight or corrode the solar cells, and micrometeorites are little more than a nuisance.
"LSP is probably the only option for powering a prosperous world within the twenty-first century," said Criswell."However, it does require a return to the Moon." The system depends on some human occupation of the Moon to build and run the lunar bases, but Criswell also sees this as an opportunity."Once we are back and operating at large scale, then going down the various learning curves will make traveling to the Moon and working there 'routine.'"
Not just one option- the only option we know of. My favorite Doctor likes to say, "You have the power." We do have the power, literally. The future is bright, and it waits for us to reach out for it- our legacy to our progeny is to leave them a world full of opportunity, prosperity, and peace- not just for Americans, but for all mankind.