Hidden Danger in our daily world

[Average Internet Guy]

It damages the ecosystem there, plus the sand and dust tends to cover the panels, particularly in places where sandstorms are common. The same problem caused the Spirit rover on Mars to shut down.

 

Here's an example of just one sandstorm in Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMGpBmiKEyc

[Doom Shepherd]

It damages the ecosystem there, plus the sand and dust tends to cover the panels, particularly in places where sandstorms are common. The same problem caused the Spirit rover on Mars to shut down.

 

Here's an example of just one sandstorm in Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMGpBmiKEyc

 

On the other hand, the Spirit rover lasted 20 times longer than it was designed to, and that, too, was due to the sandstorms on Mars. See, every so often a dust devil would collide with Spirit and blow the accumulated sand and dust OFF the solar panels.

 

As for damaging the ecosystem... a smaller footprint than an oil-drilling operation (though those are getting smaller all the time), and you can't "spill" solar energy. If anything, a big row of solar panels might provide shade for desert life. (Kind of how drilling in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska provided shelter for the caribou, and their population tripled.)