CSP technology uses mirrors or lenses attached to tracking systems to concentrate large amounts of sunlight in a small area. The light is then used directly as heat, or as a heat source for power plants. Parabolic troughs are linear parabolic reflectors. Gossamer Space Frames contributed innovations in structure and alignment to the LAT 73 design, said president and co-founder Glenn Reynolds, in a press release.
Gossamer has designed several utility-scale CSP collectors, including first-generation plants in Spain and the Nevada Solar One plant in Boulder, Colo. The company's second-generation designs include several large aperture trough designs. "By combining 3M innovations in materials and Gossamer Space Frames innovations in structure and alignment, we are leading the industry on a new cost-reduction trend," said Reynolds. "Many in the industry thought the rebirth of CSP was not possible, but we are delighted to prove them wrong."
3M's Renewable Energy Division was formed in 2009 to bring together several related technologies under one roof. These include films, tapes, coatings, encapsulants, sealants, and adhesives that help reduce the cost of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuel.
According to a timeline accessable on 3M's Solar Mirror Film 1100 Webpage, 3M's reflective films have been used to construct parabolic mirrors for solar energy collectors since 1979. Since then, the company has introduced solar energy collection films as an alternative to glass mirrors to cut costs and boost weatherability, and patented a solar energy concentrator. In the 1990s, 3M introduced the Solar Mirror Films product line, and patented a solar energy concentrator.
3M and Gossamer said a second LAT 73 project is being built in the southern US, and that project commissioning is scheduled for June 2012.
I agree that it's a good thing, Louis. It's a very small amount of energy compared to the production offered by a nuc plant, but it's another step in a long process.
I just wish these things were available on a small scale for homes. But steam generation is not to be played with, unfortunately.
I am not thrilled that a bankrupt state gets involved in these things, but that is California's problem as long as they don't come crawling to the rest of the country to bail them out.
But politics aside, we could use more innovative electrical generation. Since the King will not let us use coal, and congress has made sure we keep the Middle East rich, the un-taxed sun seems a good place to go.
Too bad the ocean is so hard on equipment, as there is a lot of energy stored there from the sun and moon!
California is the leader in such legislation; other states follow their lead.
There is no single solution to this country's energy needs. The Southwest should be focusing on solar; the PNW in improving hydro, and the coastal regions wind.
The whole country will need to work on the smart grid to move the power inward from the edges.
TJ, I, too am surprised that California hasn't mandated that commercial roofs will use solar energy. But I'm even more surprised that Arizona, Utah and New Mexico haven't done so. I believe their desert areas get more usable sunlight hours per year than we do here in the golden state.
Ann, a 25% reduction of cost in a primary part is a great thing. It is not clear from the article how big the 275kW unit is. A medium size coal plant typically puts out 400 - 500 mega watts of power. A typical nuclear factilty about 900 - 1,000 MW. So, that would be about 1,400 of these units to replace a medium size coal plant. Of course, the coal plant puts out that energy all the time, on demand. So, while this technology is interesting and useful as an augmentation, in areas with lots of sun, I wonder if it is economically viable.
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The 3D printing revolution seems to have a knack for quickly moving technology ahead by way of collaborative effort and even a little friendly competition -- all of course in the name of scientific advancement.
Advantech has launched a new series of motion-control I/O modules to meet the increased demands that come with more distributed industrial systems that require control of a growing number of axes and devices.
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
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