Argentina

Santa Cruz is the country’s second-largest (94,187 square miles) and least densely populated (2.9 persons per square mile) province.

 

 

54 km (34 miles) SW of the port of San Julián lies the (2,900 sq km (1,119.7 sq mi) depression of the same name.

 

 

 

Within the depression lies the Laguna del Carbón, an endorheic salt lake 105 meters (344 ft) below sea level, the lowest point in the Western and Southern Hemispheres and the seventh lowest point on Earth.

 

 

Currently the depression has little or no use. Instead, it could be utilized to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of seawater. The first step would be to carve a sea-level canal from the coast to the depression. That would keep it full by gravity which would avoid pumping costs.

 

 

Next, multiple arrays of stacked solar glass orbs could be installed, their maximum number limited only by space. In this case -the area being isolated and sparsely populated- thousands, if not millions could be installed.

 

 

Why orbs? They have several advantages, including the ability to use diffuse light. Thus, using solar power exclusively, they would generate electricity to produce hydrogen by electrolysis. The hydrogen could then be exported from San Julián itself to chronic energy importers such as China, India, and the European Union. Using advanced hydrogen turbines, they would use it in lieu of fossil fuels and nuclear fission to generate electricity. For them, it would be a welcome alternative because it would make them less dependent on their current energy suppliers. In addition, hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases, and its byproduct, pure water, could be collected and used as desired. For Argentina, it would create a permanent income stream of hard currency from free, virtually inexhaustible raw materials -sunlight and seawater.