[beat]

Decentralization solves a lot of other problems as well - it's less vulnerable to accidental or intentional failure, it requires much less skill and expense to implement and operate, etc.

Solar has the advantage that it cannot be weaponized even in nonsense theory, greatly relaxing export regulation. This makes it a viable solution for developing countries and remote areas, not just the handful of nations with the wealth and sophistication to manage a reactor.

[thesteamboat]

> Decentralization [...] requires much less skill and expense to implement and operate, etc.

This isn't true because decentralization is easier, it's true because technologies which this isn't true of (require large capital expenditures or high degrees of expertise) can't be given to everyone and their mother.

By saying we're doing decentralized X we're moving the problem of requisite operating skill to the designers who must make their systems simple enough for laypeople. Likewise factories and engineers must find economies of scale in production of units which are distinct from the efficiencies we currently realize building relative few, much larger generators.

In short, while decentralization solves some of these problems, it also presupposes the solution of others. It may be a worthy goal, but there are challenges to get there.

[Thiz]

I believe the most important unobserved benefit from decentralized solutions is the wave of innovation it would spark.

Private moneys would compete for a slice of the pie bringing to market millions of ideas putting the pedal of progress to the metal.

[someguy488fu348]

Solar may have been weaponized as early as 214 BCE.

[Retra]

You bring solar weaponry into a modern military battle and see how that works out for you.

[TaylorAlexander]

Photovoltaics can't really be weaponized, and we can't stop bad actors from getting access to large mirrors.

[TeMPOraL]

PVs can't be weaponized because they suck as an energy source compared to burning fuels. Any power source with enough energy density to be interesting is a weapon, just like any engine with enough power to give you reasonable interplanetary travel times is a weapon of mass destruction.

Humanity needs to find a way to deal with high-energy technology if we're to move forward as a species.