Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
Island, if panels were 100% efficient - your assumption, not mine - consider 100 watts solar energy per sq foot in full sun at the sunniest latitudes. 1 square mile gets 2.7 x 10^9 watts at high noon. 4 hours per day, 365 days per year, is 4 x 10^12 watt hours per year. Total electricity consumption of USA is appx 3.7 x 10^12 watt hours per year.[/I]
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So how many square miles of solar cells would be needed? And what is the highest efficiency estimate for the kinds of cells being built today?