Concentrating Solar Power: Biofriendly Technology of the Future?
Submitted by: Meritus Media Inc
2008-02-11 15:39:36
Looking like a science fiction scene, the brilliantly lit giant solar collector tower near Seville, Spain, dominates the landscape. More than six hundred huge mirrors on the ground illuminate the 377-foot high concrete tower. The movable computer-controlled mirrors are angled in such a way as to point the beam of reflected sunlight and heat to a specific spot atop the tower. There it heats up water-filled pipes to create steam, which in turn drives turbines to generate electricity in a biofriendly manner.
As Europe's first solar power station it provides 11 megawatts of power—enough to power 6,000 homes. The plan is to ultimately provide enough power for all of Seville, a city with a population of about 600,000. (1)
An advantage of this method of harnessing the power of the sun is that the plant can continue to generate power for some time after sunset, because there is adequate steam remaining. However, the highest demand for electricity is for air conditioning during the day when the sun is at its hottest.
While this system is currently more expensive than coal-generated power, it is expected that prices will come down when more solar-powered plants will be built. The biggest biofriendly advantage is that it produces absolutely no air pollution or greenhouse gases. This plant is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tons per year, compared to conventional power plants. (2)
This is not the first concentrating solar power plant in the world. In the 1980s and 1990s, two solar power plants were built near Barstow in California. These demonstration plants were capable of generating 10 megawatts each. The second plant, named Solar Two, used molten salt to store the surplus heat in the day and released it after sunset. Using this enhancement, the plant could operate 65% of the year without the need for a backup fuel source, like natural gas, to generate steam during the night and on cloudy days. (3)
Concentrating solar power holds promise for a "greener" future, but currently we still rely on fossil fuels for most of our power needs. Biofriendly Corporation is making a significant contribution to using fossil fuels more effectively. Their liquid fuel catalyst Green Plus® provides a cleaner burn with resulting higher torque, improved fuel economy and reduction in harmful emissions.
For more information about Green Plus, visit the Biofriendly Corporation website at http://www.biofriendly.com.
