Re: Lunar power system
Agreed. Unless they find a way to build these things for insanely cheap prices with maximum efficiency, I don't see it as efficient in cost or resources.
As for the mercury thing, they did a similar, yet different approach in Larry Niven's Known Space series. Stations on M<ercury powered Giant lasers that pushed lightsails out of the solar system. I wonder if there's a way to convert lasers into electricity.....
These same lasers also helped Earth when they blasted an alien armada out of existence before they could even reach us. Very helpful second use, just keep that thing pointed away from us.