I've posted before about Stirling Energy Systems, which sells solar electricity from concentrating mirrors and heat engines for around 11 cents per kWh.
But at least one technical advocacy group -- Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC) -- suggests that mass production could bring prices down to 5 cents per kWh or less (PDF), even without technical breakthroughs.
The PDF linked is a summary, so I don't know how good the case is.
I will also note that this price includes enough storage to ensure 70% reliability -- which provides different economics than the 95% reliable wind grid component I mentioned previously, and different economics than wind without storage. Obviously sun and wind as grid components mix well together. The troughs -- sunless weather and windless weather -- tend to occur at different times. So do the peaks -- strong winds and blazing sun. (Yes, there are exceptions, Santa Ana winds and so on.)
Comments
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sunflower Posted 11:17 am
15 Jan 2007
give you a straight answer.
Large heat engines are more sustainable. A 10 MW(e) central receiver installation (a tower with heliostats) can fire a large turbine with after-hours molten salt storage. President Reagan dismantled the 10 MW(e) molten salt central receiver solar power plant located in California.
There has been significant study at the national labs concerning the efficacy of Stirling verses high-intensity pv. Additional study will be necessary to determine the relative costs of dishes verses heliostats.
Bush "Zeroed-out solar concentrators" his first year in office, so the research core has been eliminated.
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Laurence Aurbach Posted 12:48 pm
15 Jan 2007
Based on this review, it is [the authors'] opinion that CSP technology is a proven technology for energy production, there is a potential market for CSP technology, and that significant cost reductions are achievable assuming reasonable deployment of CSP technologies occurs.
How much cost reduction?
The figure and table below highlight these results, with initial electricity costs in the range of 10 to 12.6 ¢/kWh and eventually achieving costs in the range of 3.5 to 6.2 ¢/kWh. The specific values will depend on total capacity of various technologies deployed and the extent of R&D program success. In the technically aggressive cases for troughs / towers, the S&L analysis found that cost reductions were due to volume production (26%/28%), plant scale-up (20%/48%), and technological advance (54%/24%).
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Sam Wells Posted 1:51 pm
15 Jan 2007
We're paying about 16 cents per kW-hr now, so we like our "solar powered drier" just fine. That's a clothes line.
Am working on a solar powered water heater too. Just go ahead and put out 400 feet of garden hose on a 90 degree day in full sun, and you'll know what I mean. Hey that stuff stays hot a l-o-n-g time.
Not too sure about metals in our heavy salt here, and need 110 MPH hail-proof stuff is concentrators are used. I'm all for backyard solutions, though, and solar heat is by far the best as I can tell.
Onward through the fog
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sunflower Posted 1:58 pm
15 Jan 2007
A solar concentrator is more storm durable than a window and has about the same repair costs.
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Zarkov Posted 2:17 pm
15 Jan 2007
You must think WORLD WIDE and with real grunt, otherwise you are wasting time money and credibility.
What is put in place now must hold for the indefinite future, IMO.
No backyard school boy solution, such as solar heaters will do a real man's job.
But of course all these alternative primitive solutions are just playing in the sand pit, aren't they?
Problem is by giving them any credibility y'all run the risk of diffusing the focus, until the arena is beset with a myriad of false promises... sending a false sense of security through the population, drowning the credibility of practical solutions.
Get real you guys !!!!!!!! seriously
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GerryWolff Posted 7:09 pm
15 Jan 2007
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GerryWolff Posted 7:10 pm
15 Jan 2007
There is more information about CSP at http://www.trecers.net/index.html .
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caniscandida Posted 7:12 pm
15 Jan 2007
Can you explain?
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
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Laurence Aurbach Posted 12:20 am
16 Jan 2007
No. Twenty years of documented experience with the 350 MW SEGS plant in California shows operating costs equivalent to 3 ¢/kWh when capital expeditures are paid off.
You must think WORLD WIDE and with real grunt
Check out these proposals:
Clean Fuels Institute (USA)
Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (Europe)
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Gar Lipow Posted 12:58 am
16 Jan 2007
An actual SEGS plant, that is selling power right at this momemnt.
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Gar Lipow Posted 1:01 am
16 Jan 2007
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Sam Wells Posted 2:03 am
16 Jan 2007
You know, think globally, act locally?
Onward through the fog
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yjdmd1 Posted 1:19 pm
16 Jan 2007
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America's Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption.
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair "NET METERING" (the buying of excess generation from the consumer), including the promotion of research and production of "renewable energy technology" with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task.
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy - energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
1-16-2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
JayDraiman
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Danothebaldyheid Posted 9:44 am
17 Jan 2007
In a marked contrast to oil, the scenario is beneficial for everyone involved, with desalinated seawater available as a side effect of power production, and the possibility of agriculture under solar troughs. Local people, then, would gain employment and vital resources.
The difficulty, then, is in creating the social momentum this all needs.
Does anybody know if there is a website where people can discuss the intricacies of such a project? I mean, for instance, - how can projects get funding - which governments are open to this kind of scheme - how to influence authorities - how to start a company etc.
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sunflower Posted 10:54 am
17 Jan 2007
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_energy_concentrated...
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GRLCowan Posted 11:27 am
17 Jan 2007
--- G. R. L. Cowan, former hydrogen fan
Oxygen expands around B fire, car goes
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