Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by throw8932894 1615 days ago
Solar actually makes sense in India, it does not snow there :)

I seen documentary where they covered river with solar panels. It reduced evaporation of water by significant amount. And it did not occupy any arable land.

And big parts of India have underdeveloped electricity grid. Solar is easiest way to bring electric infrastructure there.

2 comments

> Solar actually makes sense in India

Only in arid regions. Specifically Thar desert of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Doesn't make any sense in other places.

> it does not snow there

Oh it does! Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh come to mind [1]. India has all seasons and all types of weather.

> big parts of India have underdeveloped electricity grid

What do you mean by an "underdeveloped" electricity grid? India recently achieved 99% electrification target. Only 31 million out of 1.3 billion people have no/non-continuous electricity. I wouldn't label it "big parts of India".

[1]: https://www.happyeasygo.com/travel-blog/travel-tips/best-pla...

That will destroy the river ecosystem, while providing little to nothing for power, since rivers are often shaded.

That's a terrible idea, unless I am missing something.

Why not cover the vast amount of uninhabitable land in solar panels, rather then what small amount of precious resource land that exists.

Actually, these panels are placed on irrigation canals, where concrete embankment alreadyy exists.
Rivers are shaded? What kind of rivers are you thinking of? Are you talking about a flowing river, several hundred feet in width having shade in the middle of it?
At that size probably not.

But I still cannot wrap my head around this being a good idea, destroy the ecosystem of rivers, provide next to zero power (compared to resources required to build and maintain), require a HUGE investment as it's fast moving water and everyone knows fast moving water destroys material, have to deal with overflowing from rain, drought, etc.

Way too many factors for this to be a good idea.

It could probably if it was a man made canal or something with a set amount of water, but that still destroys any chance of an ecosystem.

he thinks because America has the tendency to put their city rivers underground its a world wide thing.
I have no idea what you are even talking about? Underground?
Sunswick Creek, Tibbets Brook, Sawmill River, Park River, Bluespring Caverns, Arroyo de las Pasa, Arroyo de la Sacatela...
Irrigation channels ... eco systemic rivers.
these are not rivers, they are canals
I’m fine with canals, but there must be easier places to put them then on moving water.
Yes, canals. Not every country has infinitive supply of land. It is very difficult to find free land in India.