Energy plant makes a leap in solar power
This article from the New York Times describes a power plant in Spain, which has become the first to be able to generate solar powered energy 24 hours a day without interruption. To keep the plant functioning after dark, the plant uses moltent salt to transfer the heat generated from concentrated sunlight. Using salt allows the plant to operate at high temperatures, which increases the plants efficiency by enabling it to generate hotter pressurized steam to drive the turbine. It allows allows electricity generation to continue for up to 15 hours without any sunlight. Once fully operational, the plant will be able to power 25,000 homes while saving more than 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Future development of plants such as this one is already being planned.
Energy Group
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This is definitely an impressive feat to be able to construct a 24-hour solar power plant. Clever methods.