It is Europes first commercially operating power station using the Suns energy this way and at the moment its operator, Solucar, proudly claims that it generates Megawatts MW of electricity without emitting single puff of greenhouse gas. But our reward was the cool breeze at the top of the tower Letting off steam one of the gurus of solar thermal power, Michael Geyer, an international director of the energy giant Abengoa, which owns the plant.
It was like being in sauna and for the last stages the metal rungs of the ladders were scalding. had trouble working it out. HOW THE SOLAR TOWER WORKS In fact, as we found out when we got closer, the rays of sunlight reflected by field of huge mirrors are so intense they illuminate the water vapour and hanging in the air. The effect is to give the whole place glow even an aura and if youre concerned about climate change that well be deserved.
It is Europes first commercially operating power station using the Suns energy this way and at the moment its operator, Solucar, proudly claims that it generates Megawatts MW of electricity without emitting single puff of greenhouse gas. concrete tower storeys high stood bathed in intense white light, totally bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian countryside. But our reward was the cool breeze at the top of the tower.
It was probably the heat that did it, but found myself making the long journey up to the very top to the heart of the solar inferno. It is Europes first commercially operating power station using the Suns energy this way and at the moment its operator, Solucar, proudly claims that it generates Megawatts MW of electricity without emitting single puff of greenhouse gas. We could soon feel the heat, despite thick insulation around the boiler. What happens when the goes down?
Is it true that this power is three times more expensive than power from conventional sources? Yes, but prices will fall, as they have with wind power, as the technologies develop. They track the and direct its rays to heat exchanger receiver at the top of the tower. What happens when the goes down? Enough heat can be stored in the form of steam to allow generation after dark only for an hour but maybe longer in future.
Tags: oil, steam, wind power
