/technologies/power-management/b/blog/posts/solar-farms-in-the-sahara-desert-could-negatively-affect-the-climateTopaz solar farm in California. (Image Credit: NASA Landsat) Is nothing in power generation good for the environment? Some deserts in the world could have one key advantage: harvesting solar energy. Deserts are massive, silicon abundant, f...en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/technologies/power-management/b/blog/posts/solar-farms-in-the-sahara-desert-could-negatively-affect-the-climateWed, 03 Mar 2021 20:59:17 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:60db1136-cd8d-4fbf-98ba-e89e439baa8dmichaelkellett0<p>Very dubious article - why would you cover 20% of Sahara ?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Sahara desert covers approximately 9.4 million km², and covering less than 2% of it with 3.5% overall-efficiency solar power plants would surpass the energy content of Middle East oil production. From a physical standpoint, the energy is indeed there.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>(from <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/herron2/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank" title="http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/herron2/">Solar Irradiation and Energy from Deserts</a> </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>MK</p><img src="https://community.element14.com/aggbug?PostID=10923&AppID=4&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">