this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2024
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Saudi Arabia
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They could just use civilian nuclear like neighbor UAE, a proven technology that’s known to work. I don’t understand your objection to the use of nuclear power. China is now building them fast and cheap.
Would you be okay if Saudi Arabia accepted the US terms and only bought ready fuel from the US a la UAE?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-08-28/china-s-fast-and-cheap-nuclear-gives-its-climate-ambitions-a-boost
Because the photovoltaic cells do melt in the heat, they actually need to be actively cooled. Saudi Arabia did build a solar thermal plant to power a factory.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2022/06/02/worlds-biggest-solar-plant-to-decarbonize-aluminum-industry-in-saudi-arabia/
They do not melt in heat. Their output is 10% lower at 45C higher temperature than 25C.
China has already reduced its nuclear permits and cancelled some projects, due to solar.
They do melt in the heat and require cooling. It is 35C at night and much hotter during the day, and it is hot and humid all year in the coastal cities where the majority lives.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/07/12/solar-module-cooling-techniques-for-the-desert/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018363921000453
The temperature of the panels will be hotter than the air around it.