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Storing Solar Thermal Energy
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Solar Collection Methods
Solar Storage Methods
- Overview
- Molten Salt Overview - Molten Salt How It Works - Compressed Air Energy Storage -- Abandoned Mines
Plants and Projects
- Projects Overview
- Plants in Operation as of 6/08 - Plants Proposed as of 6/08 (10 largest; plants with storage) - DOE Storage & Heat Transfer Projects
Power Grid
Other Resources
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There are two major issues that must be addressed regarding solar energy to ensure that the process is practical and cost effective. These two issues are, in fact, the “flip side of the coin” of each other:
Both of these questions are answered by Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants that include storage in their design. Most of the electricity in the United States is produced by steam turbines. The basic premise is how can solar energy be used to produce steam. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, 354 MW of CSP parabloic trough plants were built in the Mohave Desert. These plants have delivered reliable power to southern California and demonstrate the commercial success of solar power generation. CSP is a solar thermal technology. CSP plants can collect and store solar heat energy. If the projected annual growth rate of CSP through 2012 is maintained to 2020, global installed CSP capacity would exceed 200,000 megawatts—equivalent to 135 coal-fired power plants. Earth Policy Institute http://www.earthpolicy.org Photofileit.com gives you an in depth overview of CSP technology. Take the links to the left to learn more about CSP technology. |