Solar Thermal on verge of a BOOM ? - New York Times article.
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the world appears to be on the verge of a boom in a little-known but promising type of solar power. It is not the kind that features shiny panels bolted to the roofs of houses. This type involves covering acres of desert with mirrors that focus intense sunlight on a fluid, heating it enough to make steam. The steam turns a turbine and generates electricity.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/business/06solar.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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On sunny afternoons, those 10 plants would produce as much electricity as three nuclear reactors, but they can be built in as little as two years
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Some of the new plants will feature systems that allow them to store heat and generate electricity for hours after sunset.
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The power they produce is still relatively expensive. Industry experts say the plant here produces power at a cost per kilowatt- hour of 15 to 20 cents. With a little more experience and some economies of scale, that could fall to about 10 cents, according to a recent report by Emerging Energy Research, a consulting firm in Cambridge, Mass. Newly built coal-fired plants are expected to produce power at about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour or more if carbon is taxed.
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Companies that build the plants have been working on improving the technology, raising efficiency and lowering costs. A battle among competing approaches is expected over the next few years.
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Suppliers of thermal systems are gearing up for a boom. In Las Vegas, a company called Ausra is building a factory to make mirrors for one type of solar plant; it will double the world’s manufacturing capacity. A German company, Schott, is building a factory in Albuquerque that will make heat-collecting tubes.
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Despite the difficulties, solar thermal plants have an other-worldly beauty as they run.
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Yes of course there will be many problems and limitations as we all appreciate, but it's still great news and what technology does not have it's share of problems, Huh ? Invariably there are often compromises and work arounds to problems that can be found. I mean "Problems" ? that's why we are trying to move away from fossil fuels in the first place isn't it !
