Southwest US could get 250MW solar power plant
A group of southwestern US utility companies are working on plans to potentially build a 250MW power plant that harnesses the power of the sun. The plant would probably be based on solar trough technology instead of photo-voltaics, and could produce enough electricity for 160,000 to 200,000 homes. Currently there is a small scale solar trough plant supplying power to 200 homes in Tucson, Arizona.The solar trough setup uses arrays of parabolic mirrors that can track the sun across the sky. The mirrors focus the sunlight on a tube at their focus point that is filled with mineral oil that is heated to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot oil is passed through a heat exchanger to produce steam that drives a electric turbine. The group hopes to get all the approvals to build the facility by early next year.
[Source: TreeHugger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ali 2:37AM (2/27/2007)
i like how this blog talks about anything that is green instead of just green cars... do u guys have a blog thats just greentech in general?
Reply
shongwong 10:17PM (2/26/2007)
reminds me of a mythbusters show where they tried to light a wooden ship on fire with many parabolic mirrors, focusing the sunlight on a single point. The myth was busted as they failed to produce flames, but I wonder how these solar troughs work differently.
Reply
Richard Brown 7:50AM (2/27/2007)
A group of MIT students re-produced the Mythbusters episode and were successful in starting the ship on fire using the same materials, just better approach.
Reply
Nelson Mensch 12:40PM (3/01/2007)
New Solar Power Plant Technology megawatt power plants is now available. The government has allocated 170 Million on research and development of solar systems that can reduce the current price of 21 to 23 cents per kWh to 13 to 15 cents kWh. This new megawatt power plant has surpassed this to 6.5 cents per kWh. The system is 1/2 the price of other systems and uses 1/2 the land. A 10 megawatt system in the southwest USA would provide electricity to approximately 135,000 homes and would pay for itself in 2.4 years. For more information contact Nelson Mensch at nmensch862@aol.com
Reply
GoCASolar 4:28AM (3/02/2007)
Green House Gases are soon to be a thing of the past! Solar power is finally available to almost every home owner. The hassle free installation and rental of our Solar Systems will eliminate our reliance on coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Don’t hesitate!
Be a leader in the transition from our old electric grid to a smart, reliable, and renewable one. Every homeowner has now the opportunity to have a Solar System without an up-front investment. You pay only for the electricity that is generates for you. What’s even more, it costs the same as your electricity service does today, but unlike your electric company, its price will stay the same for the next 25 years. Write to find out more.
Reply
GoCASolar 4:35AM (3/02/2007)
Http://www.JoinTheSolution.com/GoCASolar
Reply