Oops! Solar Thermal

By David Harshbarger

In 2010 several solar energy collection systems were built to provide solar energy. One worked well, such a Photovoltaic Solar Panel Farms. You might have seen them throughout California. They appear to look like lakes in the desert.

Some systems didn’t work so well. One system was the Solar Thermal system. This system used mirrors to focus sunlight on a central tower. The heat from the reflected sunlight is used to heat a steam process that in turn powers steam generators.

This was based on a historic Greek tale of Archimedes’s use of metal battle shields as mirrors, all focused on enemy ships The mirrored sunlight was so powerful that it started fires on enemy ships thus sinking them.

The Solar Thermal projects worked under the theory that mirrored reflected sun light could provide enough solar heat to power the steam generators.

This system was installed with Federal and State incentives and funding throughout California.

It didn’t work so well. The mirror’s sunlight was not enough Solar Thermal energy to provide enough steam to complete the process.

In order for these power plants to meet Federal and State requirements and minimal standards the system was often supplemented with natural gas burners to meet regulations.

These Solar Thermal Plants are being dismantled.The testing and working prototypes need to be verified and proven before experimental systems are implemented. If this was done, tax payer dollars could have been used to fund proven and efficient energy systems

We at GRNNRG.Org believe in outside the box experimentation and research. Proper research and experimentation always need to be proven effective and financially efficient before it is put into use commercially.

The link below provides more details as to the how and why these Solar Thermal plants are being dismantled. In particular the Ivanpah Energy plant in the Mojave Desert. Complied by The Institute of Energy Research.