>Al, thanks for the calculations: Validation, except he went for New Mexico and was using older less efficient panels:
>
>http://modernsurvivalblog.com/alternative-energy/amazing-total-area-of-solar-panels-to-power-the-united-states/
>
>This is doable for the USA IMHO, but the issue would be cost effective storage of energy somehow so the lights can shine at night or in a storm. Batteries cost a bomb. Maybe pump water up behind a dam for hydro overnight, or split water into its combustible parts?

Dam/hydrolysis etc. are essentially examples of combined cycle operation.

For PV one significant limitation would be silicon fab capacities. Fabs are expensive and are a major current limitation in uptake of SSDs. Scaling up the PV industry to that kind of capacity would be very difficult. That's if you can overcome the initial capital outlay, distribution issues etc.

If North America was a greenfield situation it would be an interesting option, but it's anything but. Entrenched, regulated utilities expecting ROI etc.