To address energy shortages, we need to produce more energy (geothermal, hydroelectricity, conventional power stations, etc.) which requires lots of water; To address water shortages, we need to produce more water (e.g. desalination), which requires lots of energy. We are in serious .... unless we come up with some technology that will break this vicious cycle.
In 2008, total worldwide energy consumption was 15 terawatts (15,000,000 megawatts) with 90 percent derived from the combustion of fossil fuels.The largest wind farm in the world is Horse Hollow Energy Center in Texas. This wind farm has 421 wind turbines that generate a total capacity of 735 megawatts. The wind turbines are spread across 75 square miles of land in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas.
To produce 15 terawatts, it may take approximately 1.5 million square miles spread, assuming there is wind. Wind and solar are considered intermittent energy sources because power generation may vary due to uncontrollable conditions.
