(2019 Archived) ARGUMENT VIII: Less Solar Energy on Mars vs. More Solar Energy on Venus

Having written this in 2019, and originally published in 2021.. when I was 15 and 17, there would be inaccuracies that I would correct here. Having removed it, I'm publishing  again, for sake of completion so that the efforts wouldn't have gone to vain: Most of this still stands true 

Energy is one of the most important entities for a thriving civilization. As a planetary civilization, we treasure Energy and would almost do anything to get it. Our demands are fulfilled by many sources of energy; which includes nuclear reactors, geothermal sources and fossil fuels. But, though it doesn’t seem as if it were true; the Sun is the major energy source of our world. The Earth depends on solar energy for almost everything, and the light that cascades from the sun for half-of-everyday is quintessential for our biosphere to not crumble. Hence, It would obviously also be true for our artificial biospheres on other alien worlds too.

In those biospheres and outer-space, we do not have most of the energy sources we love to work with; especially during initial missions. This makes solar and nuclear energy, as the most feasible, promising and steadfast energy sources in such scenarios. Still, solar energy is an almost-free source of energy, while there are radiation concerns regarding nuclear energy sources during crewed missions. This would consequently make solar energy as the most feasible source of energy in this scenario, especially in the inner solar system – Mercury, Venus, the Earth and Mars. But, the intensity of the light that falls on each planet is different: That is because of the luminous intensity of sunlight is inversely proportional to the distance from the sun. That is, the further away you’re from the sun, the lower the light intensity of sunlight you receive. Therefore, we can find the intensity of light falling on each planet, merely by using inverse proportion. Assuming that the Earth receives 1 unit of solar energy; Then Mars, lying 1.52AU from the sun, would receive 0.65 units while Venus, lying 79AU from the sun, would receive 1.42 units ^[1]. Further calculation would reveal that Venus receives 42% more solar energy than the Earth, while Mars receives 35% less. To put in a perspective more suitable for this argument; Venus receives 218% more solar energy than the red planet ^[1], which is ~ triple the amount found on Mars!

Solar Energy is one of the most consistent sources of energy to be converted into other energy forms; as in electricity for electrolysis, kinetic energy of machinery, etc. Even when nuclear and radio-isotopic energy sources enter into the stage, solar energy would still remain the domineering form of renewable energy used by our colonies. Solar Energy would literally run everything, from agriculture to industry. Doing so in a world which receives 35% less solar energy would be much more challenging: There would be times where solar energy on Mars wouldn’t meet Martian energy demands. Time-to-time, the processes which would need tremendous amounts of energy would have to be delayed or not-done, until enough energy is accumulated. It wouldn’t be a problem on Venus, as 218% more energy would be more-than-enough to do almost anything industrially imaginable.

Energy is like currency; the more you have it, the more work you could get done. Mars, broke of solar energy, would have problems. Venus which overflows with solar energy can get more done.

[ADD REFERENCE 1]

Achinthya Nanayakkara (30.03.2025)

Originally published - 2021 (now removed)

Originally written - 2019