Why can’t we just use batteries?

Question

I often see posted about how covering a relatively small area in a desert with solar panels could power the world – but transferring that energy is too difficult. Why can’t we just use that to charge batteries and ship them places/ everywhere?

In: Physics

Answer 1

You would spend more energy transporting those batteries than you would obtain from your theoretical solar farm, and most of that spent energy would be from fossil fuels.