eSolar, with financial help from Google, has created an affordable solar thermal alternative to power plants utilizing coal and fossil fuel.  By developing a modular approach to building solar thermal power plants, eSolar has found a cost effective way to build scalable power plants.

Unlike photo voltaic solar panels, eSolar’s process does not require silicon.  Instead, eSolar has based its solar process on the use of easily produced components that can be quickly assembled with minimal skill.  The process includes creating modules composed of several thermal towers surrounded by heliostats (mirrors) that generate 33MW per module.  Modules can be added to create up to 500 MW of energy per power plant. 

The mirrors concentrate the sun’s heat on each tower.  That generates steam within the tower which runs the generator producing electricity.  This is a simple concept that has become more attractive with the high cost of building coal and fossil fuel power plants along with the spiraling cost of fossil fuel itself.

Google has invested $130 million in eSolar as part of Google’s “green” investment strategy.  The ultimate goal is to create clean affordable energy.  eSolar’s process should do just that. 

Recent developments in solar technology are making solar energy more affordable for home owners and now for cities and counties.  Soon we may be a country powered primarily by the sun.  You can’t get energy much cleaner than that.

Related:

HP collaborates with XE on improved solar power

New solar windows cost-effectively light up homes

Sunrgi technology expected to result in $.05 kWh

Google investing $10 million in EGS companies and research

Sunlabob in Laos rents solar power systems so should U.S. companies

Entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 at 11:43 pm under Google, Science and technology, Technology.  Print This Post

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