If all of mankind's energy was supplied through solar panels would the effect be big enough to decrease the temperature (since light is converted in part to electricity)?
this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2025
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Directly, as you phrased the question: No.
Indirectly: Yes. Because we would automatically stop burning fuels when we get all our energy from solar. That would decrease the temerature a tiny little bit.
But the temerature of the planet does not really depend on such actions. For example, the indirect effects of CO2 and Ozone in the atmosphere have much more powerful impacts - and still they can only change the temperature at the planet's surface (that's what our lives depend on). The whole of the planet is yet another thing.
Don't forget industrial heat. If we had infinite electricity for free everywhere there would still be fossil fuels burned for industrial heat. We need more technology to finish it like plasma torches.
No need to despair, the technology is being actively developed and a lot of the sub 600 Celsius temps have an electric solution now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_arc_furnace
I was rather surprised to find out there was something like a smelter running on electricity (well industrial scale one). It will be a big deal if solar panels and wind turbines can be made exclusively with electricity from mining to final product.
Things are moving fast! Can't wait for them to figure out clinker for cement.
Why? Is it different from "all of mankind's energy"?
I assumed you meant electricity since solar only makes that type of energy efficiently (and sub 100C)
Over 600 might be able to use focused sunlight? Like the tower in the middle of a solar farm? Though seems highly impractical to effectively laser that heat somewhere