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    Study warns solar farms could unleash unintended consequences on the environment, including global w


    Study warns solar farms could unleash unintended consequences on the environment, including global warming

    Large-scale solar and wind turbine farms could trigger negative affects on the climate around the world
    Paul Sacca
    February 21, 2021
    Study warns solar farms could impact climate, global warming - TheBlaze


    A new study finds there could be unintended consequences of constructing massive solar farms in deserts around the world. The eye-opening research claims that huge solar farms, such as in the Sahara, could usher in environmental crises, including altering the climate and causing global warming.

    The study was carried out by Zhengyao Lu, a researcher in Physical Geography at Lund University, and Benjamin Smith, director of research at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University. The results of their research were published in a Feb. 11 article in The Conversation.

    Solar panels are darker colors such as black and blue to attract and absorb more heat, but they are usually much darker than the ground around the solar panel. The post cites an article that claims most solar panels are between 15% and 20% efficient in converting sunlight into usable energy. The researchers assert that the rest of the sunlight is returned to the surrounding environment as heat, "affecting the climate."

    The article notes that in order to replace fossil fuels, solar farms would need to be enormous — covering thousands of square miles, according to this article. Solar farms of this magnitude potentially present environmental consequences, not just locally but globally.

    Authors of a 2018 study say that climate models show that installing ample numbers of wind turbines would double precipitation in the Sahara desert, and solar panels would increase precipitation by 50%. The researchers came to this conclusion by determining that the solar panels and wind turbines would decrease the albedo on the land surface. Albedo is the fraction of light that is reflected by a body or surface.

    From The Conversation:

    The model revealed that when the size of the solar farm reaches 20% of the total area of the Sahara, it triggers a feedback loop. Heat emitted by the darker solar panels (compared to the highly reflective desert soil) creates a steep temperature difference between the land and the surrounding oceans that ultimately lowers surface air pressure and causes moist air to rise and condense into raindrops. With more monsoon rainfall, plants grow and the desert reflects less of the sun's energy, since vegetation absorbs light better than sand and soil. With more plants present, more water is evaporated, creating a more humid environment that causes vegetation to spread.

    Turning the Sahara desert into a lush, green oasis could have climate ramifications around the planet, including affecting the atmosphere, the ocean, the land, changing entire ecosystems, altering precipitation in Amazon's rainforests, inducing droughts, and potentially triggering more tropical cyclones.

    The good-intentioned effort to lower the world's temperature could potentially do the opposite and increase the planet's temperature, according to the researchers....










    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
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    Frozen Chosen A.J.'s Avatar
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  5. #3
    Ever notice how so called green marketing, green energy alternatives, meant to offset global warming are very costly? Making the green energy idea one of currency rather than positive effects.

    Reports now are saying frozen wind turbines in Texas are partly to blame for the 7 day power outage in Texas.
    Now residents there are getting new electric bills with exorbitant charges. One such bill was something like $7 thousand dollars! And this for a single family home.

    Impossible of course, but what is going to be done so that those poor people don't have to pay those type bills?

    We're getting a Generac generator installed this spring. Reliable, safe, and it connects to your homes natural gas feed. When power is out everywhere else we'll be blessed to not be in the dark and freezing to death in inclement weather.
    "Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want people turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any reason to leave. The door's wide open. Till one day time runs out and the door slams shut and suddenly it's too late to get out."
    (Lenore Banks ~ "God's Not Dead")

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    So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John's Avatar
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    >>Reports now are saying frozen wind turbines in Texas are partly to blame for the 7 day power outage in Texas.

    Wind is 20% of Texas power generation, when it failed it caused a massive demand for natural gas. The demand for natural gas sent prices for that commodity to skyrocket which is the cause of the exorbitant electric bills Texans are faced with.

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    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    >>Reports now are saying frozen wind turbines in Texas are partly to blame for the 7 day power outage in Texas.

    Wind is 20% of Texas power generation, when it failed it caused a massive demand for natural gas. The demand for natural gas sent prices for that commodity to skyrocket which is the cause of the exorbitant electric bills Texans are faced with.
    I wonder how many greenheads and old hippies really think (if at all) that there is a thing called free energy? In the world of physics, that is an elusive creature.

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    Senior Member Ezekiel 33's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    I wonder how many greenheads and old hippies really think (if at all) that there is a thing called free energy? In the world of physics, that is an elusive creature.
    Unless there is a way to generate power from the smoke of your joint ma-a-an.

  12. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Ezekiel 33 View Post
    Unless there is a way to generate power from the smoke of your joint ma-a-an.
    Farrrrrm Out, maaaaan

  13. #8
    Senior Member Highly Favoured's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Biblemouse View Post
    Ever notice how so called green marketing, green energy alternatives, meant to offset global warming are very costly? Making the green energy idea one of currency rather than positive effects.

    Reports now are saying frozen wind turbines in Texas are partly to blame for the 7 day power outage in Texas.
    Now residents there are getting new electric bills with exorbitant charges. One such bill was something like $7 thousand dollars! And this for a single family home.

    Impossible of course, but what is going to be done so that those poor people don't have to pay those type bills?

    We're getting a Generac generator installed this spring. Reliable, safe, and it connects to your homes natural gas feed. When power is out everywhere else we'll be blessed to not be in the dark and freezing to death in inclement weather.
    We have a generac. We got it after a 3 day outage left us with no water (we're on a well), as well as no other power. Our septic pump, our basement sump pump also need electricity. Outages typically happen in my area due to spring rain/wind storms - so the heating typically isn't a problem, but managing all the water is critical. Also, being in a low density area, we are the last to get power restored, so a generator fixed that!

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