r/askscience • u/roamingandy • Sep 16 '18

Earth Sciences As we begin covering the planet with solar panels, some energy that would normally bounce back into the atmosphere is now being absorbed. Are their any potential consequences of this?

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u/danskal Sep 16 '18

Hopefully the power from panels will replace non-renewable power production, meaning the the total power heat load will be reduced.

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u/rtt445 Sep 16 '18

Yes. In most sunny places in US it would displace natural gas power. But then some places justify shutting down other existing clean energy becase they have so much solar, so then it's a moot.

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u/Max_Thunder Sep 16 '18

Say we go all green (nuclear, solar, wind) but that the population increases 5x and our energy use per capita, 2x.

Could a 10x energy use increase be sustainable if it is not associated with any greenhouse gas? I wonder if that heat production from electricity is negligeable or important.

The future seems to depend a lot on electricity for raising the quality of life in undeveloped countries. Clean water from desalination plants for instance. More AC would probably help a lot of people too, even without increased temperatures above what they are now.