Converting solar-photovoltaic power into exportable products

Nations, states, and even communities must generate exportable products that earn money for buying needed imports. Exports ranged from tourist services to hardwood logs. Fertile land, with irrigation water and fertilizer, grows exportable food. On the other hand a hot dry desert with no mineral resources presents a challenge to its occupants. Solar power could be generated and exported, but that requires construction of expensive transmission lines which are in service only when the sun shines. Among new options is a solar-powered plant that recovers zinc from the zinc oxide produced during discharge of zinc-air electric-vehicle batteries. A hectare-size solar-power plant with 30-percent efficient solar cells can in eight hours recover enough zinc to power 36000 km (22000 miles) of travel in lightweight 4-passenger electric vehicles. A by-product could be renewable fuel for use by local residents in electric bicycles. One oriented solar panel, 10 meters by 10 meters in size, with 30-percent efficient solar cells, could in one day deliver enough energy for travelling 14700 km (9176 miles) on bicycles. This by far exceeds the travel distance that could be obtained in one day by riding on an animal that is pastured on a 10-by-10 meter area