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This is what the world's largest solar plant looks like when it's catching rays
theverge ^
| February 13, 2014 01:44 pm
| Jacob Kastrenakes
Posted on 02/13/2014 7:54:04 PM PST by ckilmer
click here to read article
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To: Texas Eagle
21
posted on
02/13/2014 8:06:14 PM PST
by
2111USMC
(Aim Small Miss Small)
To: tcrlaf
The birds are probably some of John McCain’s “wacko birds” anyway!
22
posted on
02/13/2014 8:07:58 PM PST
by
zerosix
(Native Sunflower)
To: tet68
Here is a
video by a guy who is flying in a light plane over the region. He describes (in the comments) a light source in the desert that he says is " ... blindingly bright, its center resembling something like when you look at a welder's torch"
The video is only 22 seconds long, but it's pretty clear.
23
posted on
02/13/2014 8:08:15 PM PST
by
Steely Tom
(How do you feel about robbing Peter's robot?)
To: tcrlaf
Libs treat animals like people. Nothing has been more harmful to the poor than Liberalism.
24
posted on
02/13/2014 8:08:23 PM PST
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
To: ckilmer
Experts describe the local bird population as delicious.
25
posted on
02/13/2014 8:09:50 PM PST
by
Dagnabitt
(Amnesty is Treason. Its agents are Traitors.)
To: tet68
Wait, maybe they are only allowed to fly over it at night...Speaking of night, what do those 140,000 homes do after dark when their power goes out? Man, we are dumb!
26
posted on
02/13/2014 8:09:55 PM PST
by
Wingy
To: BuffaloJack
Who has the window cleaning concession?Jobs program for 10,000 unskilled illegals with buckets and wash rags. At $10.10 per hour.
To: ckilmer
I see gallons of Windex....
28
posted on
02/13/2014 8:13:28 PM PST
by
Army Air Corps
(Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
To: BuffaloJack
Who has the window cleaning concession?That is not merely a good question, it is THE crucial question.
How much labor/cost does it take before reduced efficiency outweighs the cost of cleaning?
How often will this cleaning be necessary?
How often will the mirrors need to be replaced?
(Desert.
Wind.
Abrasion.)
29
posted on
02/13/2014 8:13:41 PM PST
by
publius911
( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
To: ckilmer
I love it drove by a few times just don’t look at the collector it is real bright
30
posted on
02/13/2014 8:15:42 PM PST
by
al baby
(Hi MomÂ… I was refereeing to Obama)
To: KC_Lion
31
posted on
02/13/2014 8:17:04 PM PST
by
TADSLOS
(The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
To: ckilmer
Let’s have a little math fun. One gargantuan solar plant will provide power for 140,000 people houses (not businesses or manufacturers) for 2 thirds of a day (the other third is night) which covers approximately 5 square miles. So for the West Coast’s (just Ca, Or & Wa) approximate population of 56 million it would take 400 of these installations and approximately 2,000 square miles to provide the electric for 2 thirds of a day for the West Coast.
Now, about cost ........
32
posted on
02/13/2014 8:17:16 PM PST
by
RetiredTexasVet
(Anything regarding this administration ..... remember I told you so first!)
To: ckilmer
33
posted on
02/13/2014 8:17:32 PM PST
by
ltc8k6
To: Nifster
140,000 households??? What is that in megawatts?
34
posted on
02/13/2014 8:20:12 PM PST
by
depressed in 06
(America conceived in liberty, dies in slavery.)
To: tcrlaf
And the reflective radiation is having what effect on the environment??
OH WAIT...
We arent allowed to ask common sense question about items in the political correctness portfolio, are we?? Or dumb questions.
Reflecting and concentrating solar energy does not, and cannot "create or destroy" energy or heat. It can only redistribute the normal heating-cooling cycle.
If the mirrors weren't there, the heat exchange would still be there, albeit at a different rate. Net change, zero.
35
posted on
02/13/2014 8:21:16 PM PST
by
publius911
( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
To: publius911
Years back, I read an article by a University of Ottawa prof about the reflective cooling effect of ultra-large solar arrays.
It ran very counter to the political correctness gobblygook about solar energy.
36
posted on
02/13/2014 8:26:17 PM PST
by
tcrlaf
(Well, it is what the Sheeple voted for....)
To: ckilmer
Nope. It still looks like an inefficient waste of money...
37
posted on
02/13/2014 8:26:59 PM PST
by
Dead Corpse
(I will not comply.)
To: ckilmer
Only a couple billion dollars for a 10% capacity eyesore. Only in government. As long as treehuggers sleep good though. That’s what’s important.
To: ckilmer
I thought plants like this used a sodium compound that liquified at high temp and flowed to heat exchangers to make the steam. The sodium can get so hot, retain its heat and with a large enough volume of sodium, store enough energy to create power thru the night.
39
posted on
02/13/2014 8:29:42 PM PST
by
Delta 21
(If you like your freedom, you can keep your freedom. Period.)
To: Steely Tom
Of course, that’s the focal spot being lit up by the mirrors. It’s desgined to absorb the light focused on it, but it probably only absorbs about 95% ( my guess. ) Note the mirrors are dark, since none of them reflects light towards the plane.
40
posted on
02/13/2014 8:35:45 PM PST
by
dr_lew
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