Breakthrough: Concentrated Solar Power All Over Southwest US
by David Sassoon - Jan 17th, 2008
You are looking at a picture of the solar power plant now being developed all over the American southwest by a company called eSolar. Notice: no smokestacks; no coal chutes; no rail lines stretching to the horizon for coal trains to approach. It's a beautiful sight.
Notice, too, all around the powerhouse containing the steam turbine and generator are the thermal receiver towers and mirror arrays that make this thing work using only the abundant heat energy of the sun.
This is not photovoltaic technology that directly converts the sun's rays into electric current. This is thermal technology that collects and amplifies the sun's heat energy to create steam on an industrial scale, steam that spins turbines to generate power.
You might say it's a giant water boiler, but instead of burning coal, igniting natural gas or splitting atoms to create steam power, this plant uses the heat that naturally falls on the earth.
Google announced today it is investing $10 million in eSolar to help produce utility-scale power cheaper than coal, as part of its world-changing Re<C Initiative.
Here's how eSolar explains itself in one sentence in this brochure:
To serve the renewable electricity needs of utility-scale energy providers, eSolar has developed a market disrupting solar thermal power plant technology. Generation can be scaled from 25 MW to over 500 MW at energy prices competitive with traditional fossil fuels.
Okay two sentences. And the company explains its value proposition around these five ideas:
Low Cost
Our heliostats are designed to fit efficiently into shipping containers to keep transportation costs low, and they are pre-assembled at the factory to minimize on-site labor. The result is a considerable capital cost reduction compared to existing solar thermal power plants.
Fast Installation
By employing a repeating frame structure and a revolutionary calibration system, eSolar has eliminated the need for high-precision surveying, delicate installation, and individual alignment of mirrors. Minimal skilled labor is needed to build the solar field.
Low Profile
The small size of eSolar's heliostats means a very low wind profile, which translates into higher reliability in all wind conditions, lower risk of wind damage, and more power plant up-time. Because eSolar heliostats are mass manufactured, complete replacement units can be stocked on site and installed quickly at low cost.
Modular and Scalable
Our power plants are structured on a 25 MW base unit, called a module, consisting of several thermal receiver towers, each with a field of heliostats. These modules are replicated as many times as necessary to fit specific requirements from 25 MW to over 500 MW.
Reliable and Stable
If one thermal receiver tower is off line, the other towers in a module continue to produce power. If one entire module is off line, power continues to be generated by the other modules in the plant. For both large and small installations, this redundancy provides a high level of energy security under a wide variety of operating conditions.
Has the myth of "clean coal" met its match? Google is betting $10 million on eSolar. It's looking like awfully smart money.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
On demand is better
America is watching the icecaps melt (and our economy too). This is because we are sending billions of dollars overseas every week!
Please consider Concentrated Solar Thermal as America's main power plant choice. Why? Because CST stores the suns energy as heat for ON DEMAND electricity.
CST works by using lots of mirrors that reflect sunlight to heat a fluid which fills a resevoir.
CST is the only energy source that can provide the USA with unlimited clean energy!
CST would be cheaper than complete CO2 sequesteration needed for clean coal if governments help support its massive deployment. (All energy options have recieved government help)
CST would also be cheaper than nuclear (they both need help).
CST only uses desert land, not forests. And can supply the world with unlimited energy.
Since all renewable energy is labor intinsive, millions of jobs and millions more of secondary jobs would boost the economy such that governments would probably get more taxes back.
Necessary water for cooling would be piped in from the ocean (on a large scale) and would be distilled for free.
And finally, CST would be much welcomed by most people, unlike "clean coal" and nuclear. There are very few emissions associated with solar.
Solar Water Heating Systems
Yes! Keeping in mind the drastic environmental changes and rising fuel prices going Solar is one option open to all at minimal investments. The Solar Water heating systems are so easy to install and most of them come in a Do-it Yourself kit, With the technological advancement the once heavy, bulky hard to move panels are now available widely in light weight easy to carry by one personal only packages. The advancement in technology is not only limited to light weight, but for those concern about the aesthetics of the panels, the good news is that the panels are now available with a variety of trim colors to choose from and can be easily matched to your roof. Saving about $25.oo on ones electricity bill every month on a residence of 4. We all use hot water, as one of our basic needs and what can be a better way, than helping our environment, saving our resources and ourself's some money other than by investing in a Solar Water Heating System.
There are a couple useful websites I'm aware off, that I would like to share with you
1. www.dsireusa.org - is a comprehensive source of information on state, local
, utility ans federal incentives that promote renewable engery ans energy efficieny.
2. www.powerpartnerssolar.com - one of the many manufacturers of certified Solar Water Heating Systems available. One place I saw the light weight panels and trim color options I was mentioning earlier.
Lastly, the local utilites in some areas also provide additional rebates and incentives for adding a Solar Water Heating Sytem to your exisitng water tank.
Keep the look out on. Feel Good and save- money for you, environment for us.
information
can you tell me the rough estimate of putting up a solar power plant using concentrated solar power technology in India.
Post new comment