Comments on: BrightSource Going Big on Energy Storage

By: T. Lester

T. Lester — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:28:00 +0000

So? Who says it has to be a contest? We’re doing both. Time to get on board instead of appearing to sit on the sidelines and carp about it.

By: Tropical Day

Tropical Day — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:31:00 +0000

The concept is good and I certainly understand your sentiments, although your alternative adds significant cost while reducing yield. At some point in the future I believe your desire will be common practice.
We see this now in a small scale in areas such as the northeast where land is at a premium as well as topology and woodlands are natural inhibitors.
For your concept to happen on a large scale solar panel will need to increase efficiency while reducing cost. That takes investment in the industry and large scale solar projects inject the required capital.

Take serious consideration of the current sources. Coal, oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, and wind. Think 10 years out with a breakthrough in solar panel efficiency and application. It is rather easy to dismantle a solar farm, even a wind farm for that matter with minimal negative impact. The same can not be said for any of the other alternatives while they continue to destroy the natural world you seek to protect.

The greater the investment in solar technology, the sooner we can achieve your goal.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:23:00 +0000

David, as much roof space as there is in the U.S- both commercial and residential- it still does not come any where close to producing the amount of power that these desert farms will. Additionally, by the time these farms are at the end of their lives, their will be companies competing over who will have the rights to recycle the excess panels that can’t be put back into circulation. I agree that all of the excess roof and parking lot space should be used, however the desert opens up possibilities that are not present in suburban areas.

By: David in NYC

David in NYC — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:23:00 +0000

I hate to see more pristine desert areas covered by Human Development.
There are millions of acres of commercial roof space, parking lots, and open roadways that should get solar power production.
We’ve ruined enough of our planet. Chinese solar production is an environmental nightmare.
Solar doesn’t need to be part of our problems too.