Comments on: Keeping the Lights On: Why Concentrating Solar Power is Vital to Tomorrow’s Energy Mix

By: Michiko12

Michiko12 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:13:00 +0000

It’s so hopeful news as concerns about rising fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change increase, renewable energy can play a key role in producing local, clean, and inexhaustible energy to supply Vietnam’s growing demand for electricity, heat, and transportation fuel. Because there are little or no fuel costs associated with generating electricity from renewable sources, more Vietnamese are looking to resources like wind, geothermal, hydropower, tides, waves, solar, and biomass to hedge against the price volatility of natural gas and diesel. Same case in Japan.

By: The March of Concentrating Solar Power Continues | CleanTechnica

The March of Concentrating Solar Power Continues | CleanTechnica — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:20:21 +0000

[…] Inside that space, usually a tower, is a special fluid solution. That superheated fluid can then be used to generate power in much the same way the steam in an old-fashioned, coal-fired steam engine does. But unlike PV power, it can also be stored for more gradual use using relatively low-cost thermal storage equipment (essentially highly-insulated storage for the heated liquid). That means CSP is arguably a better replacement for fossil fuels than PV, because it can be used to provide power even when the sun isn’t shining (for more on this, see Keeping the Lights On: Why Concentrating Solar Power is Vital to Tomorrow’s Energy Mix). […]

By: ラルフローレン

ラルフローレン — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0000

I’m so pleased to know that Vietnam is using renewable energy like Solar Energy. Solar energy is a free, inexhaustible resource, yet harnessing it is a relatively new idea. The ability to use solar power for heat was the first discovery. A Swiss scientist, Horace de Saussure, built the first thermal solar collector in 1767, which was later used to heat water and cook food. The first commercial patent for a solar water heater went to Clarence Kemp of the US in 1891. This system was bought by two California executives and installed in one-third of the homes in Pasadena by 1897. Solar energy is most sought today in developing countries, the fastest growing segment of the photovoltaics market. People go without electricity as the sun beats down on the land, making solar power the obvious energy choice. “Governments are finding its modular, decentralized character ideal for filling the electric needs of the thousands of remote villages in their countries.” It is much more practical than the extension of expensive power lines into remote areas, where people do not have the money to pay for conventional electricity. Thanks!!

By: How the Humble Sunflower Holds the Key to More-Efficient Solar Power

How the Humble Sunflower Holds the Key to More-Efficient Solar Power — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:55:15 +0000

[…] using photovoltaic cells to convert it directly to electricity. If you’re not up to speed, we recently published a quick primer on CSP and why it could be vital to tomorrow’s energy […]

By: Sol-e

Sol-e — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:55:00 +0000

CSP is way too capital intensive and higher maintenance and operating cost than PV. Only very small power towers are proven so far/ PV is going to drop another 50%-100% in cost over the next year. CSP is DOA

By: sola

sola — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:03:00 +0000

Good article. I agree that “dispatchability” is an important factor for renewable generating plants.

CSP is inherently good at this since its primarily collects heat (esp the power tower design)