Thread

1. nbf_1995 · 1790086541 · focus · HN ↗

   It seems like it would be more effective to simply put all the solar panels in a field, and construct a cheap shade over the entire canal no? The supports in the picture are massive and don't look cheap. Also I would imagine the solar array uses more copper than a similar capacity array just built in a field. You can't daisy chain multiple miles of solar panels together, so you need an extra power line to run alongside the whole thing.

   Put the solar panels in a field: The solar array uses less copper. The shade supports don't have to hold up solar panels: Shade supports cost less.

   The best reasoning they give is that California has insane permitting requirements, and it takes 1/6 the time to build on developed land compared to undeveloped land.

   1. walrus01 · 1790110178 · focus · HN ↗

      The cost of building that steel structure that will hold up against maximum in 100 year wind forces isn't cheap. Large PV panels make very good sails. The trusses look basically the same as you'd see in a large agricultural barn, horse riding arena, etc. Putting the PV panels on empty bare land at a height people can walk around and work with would be considerably less costly.

      I would very much like to see a total dollar figure for the example "roof trusses over the canel" structure vs. how many panels it can hold.

      It's already true that the ground mounting costs and labor to assemble the ground mount are a huge part of building a large scale PV system.

      1. dragonwriter · 1790112378 · focus · HN ↗

         > Putting the PV panels on empty bare land at a height people can walk around and work with would be considerably less costly.

         What empty, bare land?

         If its really empty and bare, there is a reason for it and that reason is probably a problem for building and maintaining PV, and otherwise you have to add the loss of the alternative uses of the land to the cost.

         1. walrus01 · 1790113090 · focus · HN ↗

            In the context of California, land that is not suitable for agriculture because it can't be irrigated, even though it's flat and somewhat accessible by road. California has plenty of it, go drive around near Twenty Nine Palms and you'll see it...

            1. pixl97 · 1790115439 · focus · HN ↗

               And the moment you start building large structures on it everyone and their dog is going to show up and NIMBY it.

               1. asdff · 1790116400 · focus · HN ↗

                  Spoken like someone who has never been to the mojave. This is the home to the largest wind turbine installation in the country. But again, if the worry is the solar panels acting like sails, probably not a great site given that wind.

                  1. JuniperMesos · 1790126284 · focus · HN ↗

                     And nonetheless, people show up and NIMBY projects in the Mojave desert! <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.latimes.com&#x2F;environment&#x2F;story&#x2F;2024-09-06&#x2F;california-desert-town-protests-solar-energy-project" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.latimes.com&#x2F;environment&#x2F;story&#x2F;2024-09-06&#x2F;califor...
                  2. PaulDavisThe1st · 1790179661 · focus · HN ↗

                     Sorry, the largest wind power installation in the western hemisphere, not just the US, is SunZia in New Mexico (5.3MW).
            2. asdff · 1790116332 · focus · HN ↗

               Now measure the wind at twenty nine palms
            3. snowwrestler · 1790174754 · focus · HN ↗

               Ok, now ask yourself why that area hasn’t been covered with solar panels yet…

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