Solar panels covering less than 2% of the Africa desert would generate enough electricity to power the entire world, according to Professor Mehran Moalem, expert on nuclear materials and nuclear fuel cycle. Responding to a question on Quora, he estimated the cost of the project to be around $5tn, with an average capacity factor of "greater than 22%" for panels costing an estimated 30 cents per Watt. Although the production of solar panels is not without environmental risk, Moalem believes the impact on the Africa would be negligible.
Solar panels covering less than 2% of the Sahara desert would generate enough electricity to power the entire world, according to Professor Mehran Moalem, expert on nuclear materials and nuclear fuel cycle. Responding to a question on Quora, he estimated the cost of the project to be around $5tn, with an average capacity factor of "greater than 22%" for panels costing an estimated 30 cents per Watt. Although the production of solar panels is not without environmental risk, Moalem believes the impact on the Sahara would be negligible.