Our world is going to face energy crisis. Scientists are trying to find new eco-friendly and affordable energy sources. 70% of our electricity needs are being fulfilled by natural gas, petroleum, coal and nuclear power. But these energies are not renewable and are not eco-friendly too.
Desertec foundation is an organization which wants to generate renewable energy on nonprofit basis. They are focusing on solar energy which is raining in deserts! Deserts gets most amount of solar energy in the world. Deserts cover about 2,98,00,000 square kilometers of earth that means fifth part of earth is desert. If we combine 1 year energy of all the fossil fuels, then it would be equal to only 5.7 hours of solar energy in deserts. Energy in 1 square kilometer for 1 year in desert would be equal to 15,00,000 barrel of petroleum! World’s total energy needs can be fulfilled by utilizing only 1% area of deserts. Keeping this in mind, Desertec foundation is focusing on making energy from this.
They are using Concentrated Solar Power technology to generate electricity. This technology is cheaper than solar cell (photovoltaic cell) and has more efficiency too! This technology uses solar heat to run the steam turbine which ultimately converts it into electricity. Because of this, the technology is also known as Solar Thermal Energy. This technology has efficiency near to 30% which is almost double than photovoltaic cell (efficiency 15% - 20%).
The types of CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) are as under.
All these types are different but they use same principle. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is electricity generated from mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver that captures the sun’s energy and converts it into heat. This heat can run a standard turbine generator or engine. These systems range from remote power systems which are as small as a few kilowatts and up to grid-connected power plants of 100’s of megawatts (MW). CSP systems work best in bright, sunny locations like the Southwest which has most deserts like areas. Because of the economies of scale and cost of operation and maintenance, CSP technology works best in large power plants.
Here are some images of CSP.
Desertec foundation is an organization which wants to generate renewable energy on nonprofit basis. They are focusing on solar energy which is raining in deserts! Deserts gets most amount of solar energy in the world. Deserts cover about 2,98,00,000 square kilometers of earth that means fifth part of earth is desert. If we combine 1 year energy of all the fossil fuels, then it would be equal to only 5.7 hours of solar energy in deserts. Energy in 1 square kilometer for 1 year in desert would be equal to 15,00,000 barrel of petroleum! World’s total energy needs can be fulfilled by utilizing only 1% area of deserts. Keeping this in mind, Desertec foundation is focusing on making energy from this.
They are using Concentrated Solar Power technology to generate electricity. This technology is cheaper than solar cell (photovoltaic cell) and has more efficiency too! This technology uses solar heat to run the steam turbine which ultimately converts it into electricity. Because of this, the technology is also known as Solar Thermal Energy. This technology has efficiency near to 30% which is almost double than photovoltaic cell (efficiency 15% - 20%).
The types of CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) are as under.
All these types are different but they use same principle. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is electricity generated from mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver that captures the sun’s energy and converts it into heat. This heat can run a standard turbine generator or engine. These systems range from remote power systems which are as small as a few kilowatts and up to grid-connected power plants of 100’s of megawatts (MW). CSP systems work best in bright, sunny locations like the Southwest which has most deserts like areas. Because of the economies of scale and cost of operation and maintenance, CSP technology works best in large power plants.
Here are some images of CSP.
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Solar Las Vegas
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