In the spring of 2013 something absolutely incredible happened. A solar powered plane, called “Solar Impulse”, flew across the United States. “Air & Space” magazine was positively glowing at this accomplishment, which it said, was “proving that unfuelled, clean flight is possible. Who needs fuel when the sun can keep you afloat.”
What seemed to be a technological triumph said pretty well everything that there is to say about solar energy. Solar suffers from chronic energy poverty. It can never deliver enough. The plane’s wingspan was about 63.4m, around the same massive length as a Boeing 747 passenger liner.
While the Boeing Jumbo jet could carry 500 people at 1,000 kph, Solar Impulse could carry 1 person and fly at less than 100 kilometres an hour. That’s why it took two months to complete the trip across America. Hardly a breakthrough that anyone had been waiting for.
So what’s the real story about solar? Is it going to save the planet?
Tag words: solar powered plane; Solar Impulse; chronic energy poverty; Boeing Jumbo; Stanley Steamer; Fred Marriott; Daimler Benz; Charles Burnett III; Dr George Löf; Solar power; wind power; backup; grid; Elon Musk; Tesla; Solar panels; lithium batteries; toxic chemicals; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; IPCC; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; UN Food and Agricultural Organisation; The Future of Food and Agriculture – Alternative Pathways to 2050; sustainable practices; Meredith Doig; Rationalist Australia; United Nations; Michael Shellenberger; Apocalypse Never; Corruption; Matthew Parris; Christianity;
