News Two new solar arrays coming online in 2023 will double Walt Disney World's solar capability

[HauntedPirate]

Why would it be possible to mount a motor a few feet above the ground and not a few more feet above the ground?

You’re not thinking like a layperson consumer. Disney just can’t do this stuff, so they have to clear land. It’s the only way.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You’re not thinking like a layperson consumer. Disney just can’t do this stuff, so they have to clear land. It’s the only way.

I’m just waiting for someone to claim it’s because of Florida’s high water table.

 

[JoeCamel]

I’m just waiting for someone to claim it’s because of Florida’s high water table.

Earthquakes

 

[DisneyCane]

Wind loads aren’t that different ten feet up.

No, but they are different and they are higher both increasing cost that has to be multiplied by thousands of pieces of steel.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No, but they are different and they are higher both increasing cost that has to be multiplied by thousands of pieces of steel.

Just, no. The wind isn’t what makes it more expensive. It’s having to provide a clear span and being robust enough to take a hit. Working in phases and coordinating with ongoing parking and traffic. That’s what makes it more expensive, not the wind.

 

[DisneyCane]

I really thought I had heard that the Solar farm Disney has, well the panels follow the sun -- I doubt they could do this as a car shade -- so I imagine they get at least 30% more sun light than they would with a fixed panel.

The large farm they have looks as if it was placed on land that was already void of trees. I do not know if they are clearing land for the two new farms.

I doubt it. I don't think I've seen any utility scale solar facility that does this in many years. I assume they determined that the added efficiency isn't worth the extra complexity, cost and maintenance. Maybe the tilt to change elevation but they don't change direction.

 

[JeffH]

noncarbon based.

 

[John park hopper]

1000 acres if that is true, what is the environmental impact on wildlife, from what I have seen not much grows under these panels, Everything has a trade off including green energy nonsense

 

[JeffH]

In clearcutting land Disney could actually be CONTRIBUTING to the problem since if they grew trees/bushes/flowers/bamboo on this land the additional growth would literally extract carbon from the air, instead, assuming there was some green there already, they are reducing the carbon that was already being eliminated. Instead, perhaps, they could be installing more charging stations, and gasless transportation options like skyliners and monorail and replace their noisy gas powered maintenance carts with electric ones (and replace the public stain of an attraction Grand Prix Raceway, with an electric powered toon town version that's at least themed to SOMETHING)

 

[Mike730]

Nothing triggers the cable news crowd like the words "Solar Energy". This thread is like a study on cognitive dissonance.

 

[John park hopper]

Nuclear is the way to go (as France does) If the government was serious they would bring together the experts in the nuclear field and design one type of plant and build regional nuclear power plants ---one design interchangeable parts.

 

[TikibirdLand]

You’re not thinking like a layperson consumer. Disney just can’t do this stuff, so they have to clear land. It’s the only way.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Nuclear is the way to go (as France does) If the government was serious they would bring together the experts in the nuclear field and design one type of plant and build regional nuclear power plants ---one design interchangeable parts.

There are a lot of green advocates and preservation / naturalist organizations that are already up in arms about nuclear energy very quickly throwing up nightmares referencing three mile island and Chernobyl. The question about spend fuel storage (hazardous waste) is thrown in for good measure. Currently spend fuel is stored on sight because of transport restrictions and no dump sight. No I do not see nuclear as the way to go, there is a place for it but not a predominant position.

P.S. Under the RCID Disney could theoretically build its own nuclear power facility.

 

[DisneyCane]

Just, no. The wind isn’t what makes it more expensive. It’s having to provide a clear span and being robust enough to take a hit. Working in phases and coordinating with ongoing parking and traffic. That’s what makes it more expensive, not the wind.

Whatever you want to point to as the reason, putting solar panels over parking spaces in a parking lot cost more than putting them on an empty field. The additional cost makes the electricity generated by a parking lot installation more expensive than an open field installation. The only variable is the cost of the land vs. the parking lot that they already own.

 

[John park hopper]

Chernobyl was an inherently one off poor design, three mile island was minor, Having worked in radiation control on nuclear sub overhauls I see it as a safe means of generating power. People seem to forget nuclear subs are docked up and down our coast.
"Nuclear power is the largest source of electricity in France, with a generation of 379.5 TWh, or 70.6% of the country's total electricity production of 537.7 TWh, the highest percentage in the world. Since June of 2020, it has 56 operable reactors totalling 61,370 MWe, one under construction (1630 MWe), and 14 shut down or in decommissioning (5,549 MWe)."
It's a shame the green energy nuts have put a strangle hold on nuclear power

 

[Brian]

I wonder how many animals and trees are permanently evicted from a thousand lush acres of Central Florida undeveloped land?

Lennar would like to have a word with you.

 

[danlb_2000]

Chernobyl was an inherently one off poor design, three mile island was minor, Having worked in radiation control on nuclear sub overhauls I see it as a safe means of generating power. People seem to forget nuclear subs are docked up and down our coast.
"Nuclear power is the largest source of electricity in France, with a generation of 379.5 TWh, or 70.6% of the country's total electricity production of 537.7 TWh, the highest percentage in the world. Since June of 2020, it has 56 operable reactors totalling 61,370 MWe, one under construction (1630 MWe), and 14 shut down or in decommissioning (5,549 MWe)."
It's a shame the green energy nuts have put a strangle hold on nuclear power

Yeah, and there are safer ways to do nuclear, but the negative public opinion has held back companies from continuing to develop these methods.

 

[mysto]

Whatever you want to point to as the reason, putting solar panels over parking spaces in a parking lot cost more than putting them on an empty field. The additional cost makes the electricity generated by a parking lot installation more expensive than an open field installation. The only variable is the cost of the land vs. the parking lot that they already own.

Sure, but if the extra cost is taken out of the board's bonuses it's a win-win.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yeah, and there are safer ways to do nuclear, but the negative public opinion has held back companies from continuing to develop these methods.

Reedy Creek Improvement District is allowed to use nuclear power…

 

[Skibum1970]

Yeah, and there are safer ways to do nuclear, but the negative public opinion has held back companies from continuing to develop these methods.

The negative opinion is an unfortunate part of it. Bill Gates has sponsored the development of a new nuclear power plant (the TerraPower group) using the Natrium design. It looks very interesting from a development or furtherance of nuclear power plant design. Other designs are also far more advanced than the nuclear power plants from the past.

My position has always been that removing trees, which absorb carbon emissions, to build solar is a loss. Some types, ex. Bamboo, do an even better job at removing carbon. So, if Disney was truly committed to a green initiative, they would use the dead spaces like parking lots for solar, plant more trees, look into garden roofs, and different tools to support that initiative.