Oceanic solar farms pose a solution to convert carbon dioxide rich seawater into methanol, which can be used to help power the transport sector, notably long-distance vehicles such as airplanes. This is the key point made in a June report by the PNAS (Patterson, 2019). The futuristic farms are meant as a way to curb climate change, as the electricity produced by the solar panels would be used to split water molecules into hydrogen, which would react with CO2 extracted from the ocean to produce methanol. (Osbourne, 2019).
The floating mega structures described in the research are made up of large circular clusters of roughly seventy solar panel islands covering an area of around one square kilometer. A single structure should be capable of producing over 15,000 tons of methanol per annum, which equates to roughly 2.4M kilometers worth of aerial travel, or 300 round trips between New York and Phoenix (Davidson, 2019). Methanol is a cleaner alternative to today’s kerosene and the CO2 released from its combustion would ultimately return to the ocean, where the same farms could reuse it, thus completing the cycle.
The authors of the study argue that this method will address the challenges of transitioning into commercially viable green energy, allowing renewable energies to compete quicker with their fossil counterparts. The idea for energy producing islands is not a new one, and has been explored historically, e.g. self-sustaining Norwegian fishing farms (Andrews, 2019 ). However, including the capability to store energy on site served as the missing link that the study includes for a more holistic solution.
Stanford’s Mark Jakobson (Jacobson, 2012) argues against the holistic presentation held by the research paper;
“Some people think the only problem in the world is to reduce carbon dioxide, but the problem is air pollution, energy security and carbon emissions. You have to solve all three of those problems together. This is a solution to a very narrow aspect of the problem, so to me, the idea is misplaced.” He continues to call the utilisation of solar farms for methanol production a ‘’roundabout way of doing things, particularly since methanol is not a widely used fuel source.’’ Other opponents of the idea state that the idea of floating solar farms is not a bad one, but that using it for fuel is suboptimal, and that the produced electricity is much better off used for different purposes. Other practical objections arise around plant maintenance in an oceanic environment, and how this could be done at scale (Chow, 2019).
What strikes me most about all of this is the complete omission of the net benefit of any of these structures, and whether it is even desirable to create a hybrid solution that potentially further extends the shelf life of fossil fuel dominant industries. The production, transportation, installation, and upkeep of huge floating solar farms seems to be something that should not be underestimated and would potentially entail a supply chain where the emitted CO2 could quickly outstrip the perceived mid to long term benefits of the solution. Yet there is no mention of this in the report or any of the surrounding interviews. Also the aquamarine repercussions of deploying the farms at scale enjoy zero practical mention. Technically the solution seems innovative, but realistic assessment seems to have been skipped in favor of a strong headline that allows us to merrily continue our consumer lifestyle.
Bibliography
Andrews, S. (2019 ). The Fish Site . Retrieved from The aquaculture pioneers who are embracing the renewable energy revolution: https://thefishsite.com/articles/the-aquaculture-pioneers-who-are-embracing-the-renewable-energy-revolution
Chow, D. (2019). How floating solar farms could make fuel and help solve the climate crisis. Retrieved from NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/how-floating-solar-farms-could-make-fuel-help-solve-climate-ncna1020336
Davidson, J. (2019). Giant Floating Solar Farms Could Make Fuel and Help Solve the Climate Crisis, Says Study. Retrieved from EcoWatch: https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-panel-national-parks-business-2640990773.html?rebelltitem=1
Jacobson, M. (2012). Air pollution and global warming . Retrieved from Stanford University : https://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/POLbook2/index.html
Osbourne, H. (2019). GIANT FLOATING ISLANDS THAT TURN ATMOSPHERIC CO2 INTO FUEL COULD PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE, SCIENTISTS SAY. Retrieved from Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/giant-floating-islands-that-turn-atmospheric-co2-fuel-could-prevent-climate-change-scientists-say-1441793
Patterson, B. (2019). Renewable CO2 recycling and synthetic fuel production in a marine environment. Retrieved from PNAS : https://www.pnas.org/content/116/25/12212
