Eco Factor: Solar thermal power plant to take Cloncurry off the grid.
Soon to recognize the enormous potential of solar energy, Cloncurry, an outback Australian town, will soon be getting a new solar thermal power plant that will deliver about 30 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually. The design will be implemented by Lloyd Energy Storage, which will build 54 towers, each of which will be 18m in height.
About 8000 mirrors covering an area of over 60,000 square feet will reflect light onto 10 ton graphite blocks mounted at the top of the towers. These blocks will then heat up enough to convert water being pumped through the graphite blocks into steam. The steam generated through this heating will then be used to power a conventional steam turbine to generate electricity. Since graphite retains heat for a longer period of time, the tower will work to its potential through night and on overcast days. Apart from generating green, renewable electricity, the plant will also conserve water, as it would use less water than what actually falls on the roof of the power station during rain.
The Dark Side:
Solar thermal energy depends on the climatic conditions of the place where they are being proposed. They would work perfectly in places such as Cloncurry, which has already claimed the title of having recorded Australia’s hottest day at 53 degrees Celsius, but would not be as dependable in other parts of the world.
Via: Gizmag
