Hope for the best.

Solar radiation and water are both available in abundance on the surface of the earth. In spite of this, we do not generally think of taking advantage of these natural resources in order to control possible future energy crises and even less to develop fuels on the basis of these two elements through which the air of our cities would become finally a little more breathable. We simply can not imagine going with our vehicle to a gas station to fill up with water and sun. It is probably also the reason why we fail to recognize that it would be possible to solve with these two resources the most urgent problems of the 21st century: the expected scarcity of oil reserves and increasing pollution. of our environment. But scientists and engineers around the world are still fascinated by a confusing fact: solar installations on 0.1% of available land with a 10% yield would be enough to produce enough energy to meet the energy needs of all humanity. Solar energy is available without limit because it belongs neither to a person nor to a particular government and its use would be more than favorable to the environment. There are, therefore, quite a few good reasons to decide to take advantage of solar energy on a large scale, but here are some major disadvantages: solar radiation reaching the earth is highly diluted (only 1 kW per square meter) , it is not constantly available (only during the day) and in addition, it is distributed unequally (mainly in the region of the equator). Scientists are therefore wondering how to store solar radiation in order to transport it from sunny but sparsely populated areas in the equatorial belt to highly populated, industrialized centers that consume the greatest amount of energy. This question motivates researchers to find recipes for transforming sunlight and water into fuels that would not only propel our cars but also boost the global economy. In other words, these scientists are looking for processes (and solar reactors in which these processes take place) that turn available solar radiation into inadequate places and times into fuels that can be transported to major centers. of settlement on our planet. Cars powered by such fuels would actually run with solar energy. Scientists are seeing solar energy really moving.

The tools that make it possible to turn sunlight into 21st century fuels have already been described by two great 19th century scientists, Carnot and Gibbs. They were among the main founders of the theory of thermodynamics, which is a science describing how energy can be transformed from one form into another, for example solar energy into chemical energy. By simplifying somewhat, thermodynamics teaches us that the higher the temperature of the solar energy that we integrate into our process, the more useful the end product of this same process will be. For example, consider a conventional hot water solar collector that allows us to heat water for showering or heating a home. Although such an installation is quite useful for local applications, it unfortunately does not allow to transport to Japan solar energy captured in Australia. But if solar energy is integrated at very high temperatures (around 2300oC) to a chemical reactor, interesting prospects suddenly open up to us: the solar energy stored in Australia would heat homes or propel cars in Tokyo.

Regards

This can be done indirectly through photosynthesis organisms that convert solar energy into different forms within their bodies such as carbon and fat. This energy can be recovered by burning coal or desertification of fats in plants and algae. There are efforts in this field by scientists.

There is possibility. But I can see you have mentioned solar fuel at one place and biofuel at another. Now biofuels are not solar fuels. There are some pros and cons of both of them. But from my view biofuels are better.

The crucial point here is that if we do not replace fossil fuels with clean energy, we will go hungry, or, at least those of us who eat the 4 to 6 slices of bread everyday as recommended by nutritionists in the USA, we will get to eat only 2 to 3 slices, at best, which is the gloomy picture in this link from Physics World:

https://physicsworld.com/a/drought-may-hit-half-worlds-wheat-at-once/

Replacing fossil fuels is not an easy job when most of the governments are not focusing on it very strongly. Not only fossil fuel, if we do not start living life in sustainable fashion, clean energy will not help us to have enough bread everyday.

Rachan Karmakar

"Not only fossil fuel, if we do not start living life in sustainable fashion, clean energy will not help us to have enough bread everyday."

Some governments, including the United States, France, Japan, England (installing clean fusion reactors), India, China and others, are gradually replacing fossil fuels taking measures like, for example, replacing gas and oil vehicles with electric cars and diesel engine buses with all-electric buses (USA), grounding commercial jetliners and raising ticket prices to discourage excessive travel (USA), installing wind power fields in rural areas, upgrading hydroelectric power dams, imposing higher fines for industrial pollution (USA), and legislating measures to reduce national population growth (all of the above).

What are some of the ways we can "start living life in sustainable fashion?

Depending on the funding for research especially from governments and government leaders making it a priority the pace of development of solar cells will be slow.

If we unfollow our greed, most of the problem will get solved. As one of the greatest man in history once said, I should mention here, mother earth has everything we need but our greed.

I think they can and this will force some governments to make incentives for people to change into solar, wind, etc.

Unfortunately, the governments will be the last group to support sustainable methods. Right now there is a danger in tomorrow's general election in Canada that a conservative Oil and Gas supporter might win and that would be a disaster for sustainable energy supply in Canada.

In the U.S.A. the Coast Guard would need to review the facility / structure for impacts to navigation in federal ship channels, while water quality agencies would look at any potential impacts to flushing as well as new pollution sources if they exist (such as failing structures sinking and left in the environment). Natural resource agencies (e.g. marine or freshwater fisheries) would look at the potential loss of access to fishing for recreational and commercial fishing (i.e., is the area heavily used by the public or commercial fishers?).

The above was a reply to the question on floating solar generation systems NOT replacement of fossil fuels (needed very critically). There needs to be a global effort to examine all potential non-fossil fuel or renewable sources that do not continue the increase in greenhouse gas sources.