Simply Stunning Solar Farm Image (Image Is HUGE!)

time2roll wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/images/charts/primary_energy_production_by_major_source.png
The train is still in the station. No rush. :C

Actually are already past the first stop as they exceed hydro. Getting past nuclear should not be be long with virtually zero growth in that area.

As you suggest, there's not enough open flat ground to put the panels, that wouldn't ugly up the planet pretty badly, and destroy habitat at the same time. Besides, Earth would end up looking like a massive disco ball from space, if we covered it with solar panels. No thanks.:W

Fusion thermoreactors and super-conducting tech.

Commute lanes.
Pickup rod raises and conducts an overhead wire. Unlimited range. Have not resolved the onramp and offramp logistics yet :)

The genuine answer is to get real about mass transit. Bay Area Rapid Transit needs to be snatched away from politicians and revamped. 500% increase in rail coverage, Four deck parking with roaming security and a fifty fold increase in ancillary non rail connections.

Even Mexico City and it's vastly overburdened subway has immediate transportation spiderwebbing it's way from every metro station. My friends are astonished when we cross and use car pool lanes "Look at all the foolish people!" in the non carpool lanes.

Much of the problems in the USA are induced by laziness and pure unadulterated egotism. "Would not be caught dead on public transport -- it is for the lesser class".

"Ah bought mah Lexus to get dented and scraped in bumper to bumper commutes"

That photo reminded of the other solar technology located somewhere in the Western U.S.. We drove past it but did not note where it was.

It's a mammoth circular array of mirrors that focus the sun onto a high tower in the middle of the array. It's quite a spectacular thing to see when it's in operation ... with a white hot glowing structure at the top of the tower probably holding some kind of chamber for the super-heating of a liquid to maybe drive turbines or some other type of electricity generating method??

Does anyone know where this thing is that we saw on an RV trip?

pnichols wrote:
That photo reminded of the other solar technology located somewhere in the Western U.S.. We drove past it but did not note where it was.

I think you are speaking of Ivanpah

Ivanpah on Google map

It was outdated technology by the time it was approved and built. Solar panels have dropped in price to produce more power for less money. Note the farm of solar panels now built right next door.

Solana solar array at Gila Bend, AZ is an interesting sight when you happen across it on I-8. We stopped for a look, thinking it was just another PV plant, but later did a little internet search and learned about power generation and storage using molten salt. Not recommended for use with tequila and lemons, apparently.
It's had it's share of problems, too, according to more recent articles.

Hurry up with my hydrogen one ton 4x4 pickup

Like geothermal plants...

Without heavy subsidy they are a massive loser. It takes high alloy steel for plumbing and then the plumbing has to be recycled when mineral deposits build up.

In 20 years when the panels become useless, please tell me there is a program that does not require massive amounts of electricity to effectively recycle the product.

"Don't worry be happy" LMAOROTF hucksterism is for the young who have never been stung. Tens of thousands of acres in China yield 150 gigawatts of power DURING THE DAYLIGHT. Now tell me if 75 gigawatts day and night (with opium pipe grade electrical storage) is enough to power a projected fifty million motor vehicles in California?

"What does your son do for a living?"
"Oh he joined with 50,000 other youths in the state's minimum wage 'solar panel wiping corps'. He likes it better than burger flipping"

Mirrors focusing SUNs heat on a collection chamber have been used to heat Mineral Oil and Molten Salt.
The absorbed heat is then used to generate Steam used to drive a turbine/generator and produce AC Power.

Both are very old technology, inefficient, costly (DOE subsidized), low MW output and plagued with problems
Mineral Oil FIRES
Molten Salt abrasive/corrosive to pipes/tank

Worked at both types of plants in 1980s.
Also a 'Coal Gasification' plant
As soon as DOE monies dried up....plants got shut down ASAP

Fossil Fuel MW output is tough to beat (not counting NUKES)


Solar output is roughly ONE MW per 650 homes. (Gigawatts :H )
China 750,000=====1200MW on 25000 acres
BUT China has LOTS of acreage to use

Especially atop the landfill of depleted solar panels :(

The future!