AFP/Getty Images.

« Prev Next »

1

2

E-mail Article

Printer Friendly

Share Article

Solar solution

The deployment of ST has grown quickly in Asia and Europe and is currently the most widely used rewable energy technology in the Middle East, while the production of PVs has increased during the last decade in Japan as well as Europe. Japan is currently ahead of every other country in terms of annual MW capacity, while Germany is at number two. Moreover, the imposing of new regulations that will increase the uptake of these technologies should be noted. In Barcelona, Spain for example, all new and remodelled buildings must now incorporate ST technology.

From an economical point of view, solar thermal technology is far less expensive per delivered energy unit than PVs:
• ST requires five times less area per delivered energy unit than PV;

• ST technology costs four to six times less investment per watt than its PV equivalents;

• ST has an efficiency level that is almost double that of PV technology.

However, from an environmental perspective, PV technology produces ‘green energy', which is pollution-free in terms of CO2 emission as illustrated in the graph below. It is also worth noting that although solar ponds may seem financially attractive, these are predominantly only practical in agricultural areas as it requires a pool of water to absorb and store the energy.

In the USA, solar power is finally being seen as a solid opportunity for the production of energy. On 7 June 2007 a 64MW solar thermal power plant came online near Boulder City, Nevada. The new facility is one of the largest of its type to be built in the world and meets the energy demands of about 40,000 households.

The parabolic trough power plant comprises three main components: mirrors, receivers and turbine technology, with 19,300 receivers forming the heart of the system. The receivers convert energy from the sun into electricity by concentrating solar radiation from the parabolic mirrored trough reflectors, which increases the temperature of the thermo-oil heat transfer fluid flowing through the receivers to over 398°C. This heated fluid is then used to turn water into steam, which drives a turbine and in turn generates electricity. The Nevada installation is expected to open up new opportunities within the solar thermal industry throughout the world.

On the PV front, new technology is already making the difference for many investors. The vision is to turn every dead rooftop space into a small power plant using improved PV technology, which would provide tremendous opportunities for an increase in the uptake of PVs. Other companies are improving the pv silicon wafers by introducing thin-film cells that can be integrated into glass or other materials to use on building facades.

And while the pressure is mounting to provide timely electricity to the huge developments currently underway in countries throughout the Gulf, producing clean energy in those countries where the CO₂ emission per capita is among the highest in the world is certainly a must. The abundant solar energy in the region has been going unused at least until recently. Various developments are now underway however that are changing this. It was recently announced that the first solar power plant in the region is scheduled to be operational in Abu Dhabi in 2009. This will have a capacity of 500MW.
This is an important move that must be replicated persistently. Standing atop a sea of oil should not defer plans to complement the energy sources in the region and now it is the right time to start.

No Comments