Can we cover the sahara in solar panels

Could large-scale solar panels cover the Sahara Desert?

Large-scale photovoltaic (PV) panels covering the Sahara desert might be the solution for our electrical requirements, but it could also cause more trouble for the environment. An EC-Earth solar farm simulation study reveals the effect of the lower albedo of the desert on the local ecosystem.

Do we need 100% of the Sahara to be covered in solar panels?

We don’t need 100% of the Sahara to be covered in solar panels. Even 20%, which is the amount that would kickstart these impacts, is not needed. Instead, a series of smaller solar farms covering 1.2% of the surface should be enough to generate enough electricity without having such extreme impacts on the environment.

Could solar power the Sahara Desert?

In reality, we would harvest so much more energy than we could ever possibly need. According to Forbes, solar panels covering a surface of around 335km 2 would actually be enough to power the world – this would cover just 1.2% of the Sahara Desert. What would happen? Outside of electricity generation, this could have several consequences.

Why do we not cover the desert with solar panels?

Why don't we cover the desert with solar panels? Stretching over roughly nine million square kilometers and with sands reaching temperatures of up to 80° Celsius, the Sahara Desert receives about 22 million terawatt hours of energy from the Sun every year. That's well over 100 times more energy than humanity consumes annually.

Could the Sahara be transformed into a solar farm?

In fact, around the world are all located in deserts or dry regions. it might be possible to transform the world’s largest desert, the Sahara, into a giant solar farm, capable of meeting the world’s current energy demand. Blueprints have been drawn up for projects in and that would supply electricity for millions of households in Europe.

Do solar farms increase temperature in the Sahara Desert?

It showed there could be unintended effects in remote parts of the land and ocean that offset any regional benefits over the Sahara itself. Covering 20% of the Sahara with solar farms raises local temperatures in the desert by 1.5°C according to our model. At 50% coverage, the temperature increase is 2.5°C.