NREL Article on Solar Mirrors

[LMagic007]

NREL Article on Solar Mirrors

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28751.pdf

Concentrating solar power technologies currently offer the lowest-cost solar electricity for large-scale power generation (10 MW-electric and above). Current technologies cost around $3 per watt or 12¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar power. New innovative hybrid systems that combine large concentrating solar power plants with conventional natural gas combined cycle or coal plants can reduce costs to $1.5 per watt and drive the cost of solar power to below 8¢ per kWh. Advancements in the technology and the use of low-cost thermal storage will allow future concentrating solar power plants to operate for more hours during the day and shift solar power generation to evening hours. Future advances are expected to allow solar power to be generated for 4¢–5¢ per kWh in the next few decades.

[forfismum]

will we live to see the day I wonder.

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

NREL Article on Solar Mirrors

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28751.pdf

Interesting how they define "large-scale".

[LMagic007]

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Interesting how they define "large-scale".

Yes I think they might have used the term "large scale" broadly, perhaps in more than one context. i.e. it could be seen in terms of the size of the receiver disk itself, also in the context of non domestic application in terms of it's setting and method of power distribution and also in the context of the potential to which Solar Thermal CSP technology can be applied, with regard to future centralised Solar Thermal CSP power generation applications, as the article is dated March 2001. Obviously Solar Technology has evolved since then.

Parabolic Trough Thermal Energy Storage Technology
http://www.nrel.gov/csp/troughnet/th...y_storage.html