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The generation of pollution-free electrical power from solar energy.Projections of the U.S. electrical power demands over the next 30 years indicate that the U.S. could be in grave danger from power shortages, undesirable effluence, and thermal pollution. An appraisal of nonconventional methods of producing electrical power is conducted, giving particular attention to the conversion of solar energy into commercial quantities of electrical power by solar cells. It is found that 1% of the land area of the 48 states could provide the total electrical power requirements of the U.S. in the year 1990. The ultimate method of generating vast quantities of electrical power would be from a series of synchronous satellites which beam microwave power back to earth to be used wherever needed. Present high manufacturing costs of solar cells could be substantially reduced by using massive automated techniques employing abundant low cost materials.
Document ID
19720032226
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cherry, W. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1971
Subject Category
Auxiliary Systems
Report/Patent Number
ASME PAPER 71-WA/SOL-2
Accession Number
72A15892
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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