> > > BTW, What contries are actively employing solar power?  I thought that
> it
> > > hadn't really caught on, and was still in a primarily developmental
> stage.
>
> For what it's worth (not much) EVERY form of energy we use is Solar (or at
> least, stellar, as some has been routed via other stars than our own). For
> starters one can include of Hydro, "Fossil" (Coal, Petroleum), Nuclear,
> Wind, Wave, Trees, Biomass, Geothermal. I'm sure one could make a much
> longer list.
>
> In some cases the chain from star to you is much longer than in others.

I sometimes wonder about calling geothermal solar.  After all, isn't the
heat in the core of the earth due primarily to the heat created by squishing
large quantities of matter together?  And has anyone done any predictions on
the long-term effects of geothermal power?  Heh... It might actually slow
down plate tectonics, and reduce earthquakes and volcanic erruptions in the
long run... (I know that geothermal is insignificant vs. the unimmaginable
quantity of heat stored in the earth, but someday it might be a problem if
we keep depending on it)

As to all this discussion of solar cells... Who ever said I meant solar
cells?  I said some form of solar collector.  That could be planes of
mirrors and a boiler, which, AFAIK is more efficient, and takes less energy
to build.

--Brendan
"Solar means uses the sun, not solar cell"

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