Numbers from here
The theoretical carrying capacity of vessels for different energy sources and clean energy technologies varies enormously (Table 5.2). Of all fossil fuels, oil can be most easily transported, with a single large vessel able to carry roughly 1 700 GWh of energy – equivalent to the yearly oil consumption of roughly 175 000 internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. Among clean energy technologies, roughly 2 GW of solar PV modules could fit in a single container ship – roughly equivalent to Belgium’s solar PV capacity additions in 2023. But solar PV modules are capital goods, while fossil fuels are consumable. That number of modules would be able to generate electricity equivalent to the needs of half a million European households for the duration of the modules’ lifetime – roughly a quarter of a century. On the contrary, an LNG vessel carrying the equivalent amount of energy would satisfy that electricity demand for less than six months
What does this even refer to?
One solar panel can provide this much energy over how much time?
I’m a big fan of solar panels, but this one seems like a deb graph
Probably until the LNG is used up. Or until the Solar panels are broken? Weird not to include the time frame
It’s “a shipload full of solar panels can provide the same amount of energy over 25 years as the many ships of LNG or coal would when burned”
I included the context quote making this sort-of clear quite intentionally.
This is not a meme
More like a “data is ugly” post
not that ugly lol, “data is perfectly functional but uninspired”
It is, because this has been public knowledge for years and regulators still havent caught up. So its a sarcastic joke of sorts.
But ye u right, the format doesnt fit.
I burned all my solar panels but I didn’t get anywhere near 50 ships. Instructions unclear please advise.
I’m confused. Is this a Saddam Hussein meme?
Is this loss? 🦋👋🏼
This post literally makes no sense. What is the purpose of container ships, are they just using it as a unit of measurement. In that case what is they journey of the ship have to do with anything.
About 40% of shipping by tonnage today is moving fossil fuels around. If we move to renewables, this pretty much goes away.
I figured it was in response to people using the ships as a gotcha. Pointing out that solar panels are manufactured using power that, itself, isn’t green yet, and are shipped using non-green methods. If done in good faith, I’d suspect the were unfamiliar with using one existing process to bootstrap a new one, but it’s usually just another way of saying we should maintain the status quo (however bad) until its replacement is absolutely perfect.
Also the production capacity of solar wafer producers is far higher energy than global oil reserves.
https://www.tbsnews.net/sites/default/files/styles/infograph/public/images/2024/06/14/chart5_0.jpg
They are also growing faster
oil can be most easily transported, with a single large vessel able to carry roughly 1 700 GWh
The 2gw of solar, installed in an area with just 1200 solar hours per year (optimal areas have 2000 hours), will produce 2400 gwh/year, and 60gwh over lifetime. About 35 oil tankers equivalent.
Are we not installing more panels because they can’t produce more or watt?
It feels like a no-brainer for every government except populistic ones, to install massive solar panel parks or similar.
BTW, I wonder what’s the cost of those shipments.
Mostly, because the manufacturing capacity is constrained still. If the factories currently being built actually go into operation, we’ll end up with enough solar to meet peoples’ needs (though not enough wind turbines)
Thanks, any idea how long that would take, roughly?
About two more years I think. I’m expecting there to be enough solar to decarbonize by 2050 if we also ramp up wind turbine manufacturing. The latter part is important because the different intermittency of the two renewables sharply reduces the amount of storage needed.
This is great news that everyone should be aware of IMO!
I was just thinking this morning about how cloudy / stormy days are often windy, and that combining windmills with solar seems ideal even on the small scale.
