Solar energy conversion
Since I recently plugged the idea of a plug-in hybrid car, where the environmental issue is how the electricity is produced, I thought I'd follow up with something on the state of technology in solar energy collection/conversion. Of course, this also would be a means of providing energy for clean and non-fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen production, if you are still cheering on that technology.
The world's largest solar collection (500-MW) facility that would cover 4500 acres will soon be built in southern California. It's based on the expansion/contraction (and thermal transfer?) of solar-heated hydrogen. Other large solar arrays have used sodium for heat transfer to generate steam to run generators. Check out the Renewable Energy Access site if you want to learn more about the directions industry and research are heading.
The Stirling engine technology is being developed for smaller-scale applications, but not yet for single-home use.
The solar engine that could
Sterling Energy Systems announced an agreement with Southern California Edison on Thursday to build a solar power facility capable of generating 500 megawatts of power. It will be installed over 4,500 acres in the Mojave desert north of Los Angeles.
The system calls for the installation of the company's 37-foot-high dishes which reflect sun into the "receiver" of a Sterling engine where hydrogen is kept. The heat from the sun is focused on hydrogen, which expands and creates enough pressure to turn a piston and crank shaft.
Sterling Energy Systems is testing another installation with Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
More commonly used solar installations use photovoltaic cells to convert the sun's energy to electricity
Meanwhile, FedEx turned the switch on a large solar installation in Oakland, California last week. According to an article in RenewableEnergyAccess.com, the FedEx-owned installation will 904 kilowatts of electricity and be the largest corporate-owned solar installation in California.
Comments
Here's a more recent article on this solar conversion project. Its construction is to be started in 2008. I guess they're really trying to build the hype and get lots of eager investors.
Posted by: NASAdude![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.nasadude.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2005 08:46 PM