Posted on 09/23/2016 10:57:43 PM PDT by aquila48
Morocco has turned on its massive solar power plant in the town of Ourrzazate, on the edge of the Saharan desert. The plant already spans thousands of acres and is capable of generating up to 160 megawatts of power. It's already one of the biggest solar power grids in the world, capable of being seen from space. And it's only going to get bigger.
The current grid, called Noor I, is just the first phase of a planned project to bring renewable energy to millions living in Morocco. It will soon be followed by expansions, Noor II and Noor III, that will add even more mirrors to the existing plant. Once the project is complete around 2018, the entire grid will cover 6,000 acres. It will be capable of generating up to 580 megawatts of power, comparable to that of a small nuclear reactor.
Right now, the solar farm is made up of 500,000 curved mirrors, each standing at about 40 feet tall. These mirrors concentrate the sun's light onto a pipeline filled with fluid, heating it up to 739 degrees Fahrenheit. This fluid is used to heat up a nearby source of water, which turns to steam and spins turbines to create energy. Morocco gets about 3,000 hours of sunlight per year, so there will be plenty of solar energy to harness. But the plant can also keep generating power at night. "The heat from the fluid can be stored in a tank of molten salts," NASA writes.
Currently, Noor I can provide solar power to 650,000 locals from dawn until three hours past sunset, according to The Guardian.
(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...
“So, off the top of my head; in order to generate enough power to be equivalent to a nuke plant, you would need an area that is almost 20 miles by 20 miles of solar panels.”
Not quite... You’re off by a factor of ten. It’s 40 sq miles not 400. So an area roughly 6x7 miles. Still a big area for the equivalent of one nuke.
“Re: the thermal solar comment; feel free to do a search for the Ivanpah Solar Plant in California, just South of Primm (Stateline) NV.”
I’ve been by there several times on my way to Vegas. Stopped once and walked near the mirrors to take a close look. I was hoping they had a visitor center and a tour of the plants...
I’m a nuclear engineer, but I’m for all the above when it comes to energy production. Anything that works and is safe enough is fine with me. Let the market decide. In California the price of conventional electricity has gotten high enough and the price of solar low enough that now solar is cheaper. So I’m contemplating going solar, that’ll more or less fix the cost for the next twenty years, whereas PG&E just keeps climbing - 15% the last two years alone.
I wonder what the $$/kWh cost of this monstrosity is.
But how much of that increase each year from PG&E is from operating costs which include the ridiculous things yours and their taxes are paying for brought on by the Kalifornja legislature? Are you considering that every panel will need to be replaced in 10 years or less and that the actual generation will diminish progressively until they die altogether?
Just how in the H are they going to regulate cattle farts outside of just killing them off? Nevermind all of the deer, elk, bear and even domesticated animal farts, or how to know the difference.
Morocco gets about 3,000 hours of sunlight per year
What do they do the other 5760 hrs or at night?
Sleep?
You have been mis-informed. The rightwing media has focused on the one line in the legislation that says the regulators can regulate cattle farts if the technology is available. But the technology doesn't exist.
The legislation is about cow manure and landfill gas.
It provides funding to lower the cost of a manure digester. Once you know that, you can get up to speed on manure digesters.
Cow manure also causes run-off water pollution which creates algae blooms and dead zones in rivers, lakes and the ocean. Like wise with hog/chicken/veal manure and fertilizers.
The legislation also requires composting of organic material rather than disposing in landfills where they emit methane.
Some disagree. Rather than pay these huge subsidies to produce cellulosic alcohol to be blended into gasoline, it would be better to use this material to produce landfill gas to generate electricity because that process already exists without subsidies
I think you've over-guesstimated the required area.
There's 640 acres to the square mile.
So, 6000 acres would be a bit over 9 square miles, or a square just over 3 miles on a side. Still big, but only about one fourtieth of your estimate.
So after billions and billions of dollars, the best solar science can create is a “steam” generator? Pathetic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.