More on solar power

I'm no expert but solar energy via "parabolic trough collectors" seems about as environmentally friendly as a power source can be--windmills tend to kill birds and hydropower makes life difficult for some fish--and economically attractive, if not now, soon.

Comments

[kyle N]

We are on the cusp of breakthroughs on two applications of nano tech. One is a very much more efficient solar cell, and the other is kinetic energy generation. This would allow you to create electrical energy with a tiny chip, from any sort of random movements, like a flag flapping in the breeze.

Another offshoot of nanotech that is a ways off, but theoretically possible is warm superconductors. That would revolutionize energy storage.

That is why I am not so concerned about the energy future.

[Mike Sproul]

Craig:

The most cost-effective use for solar is in heating--swimming pools, domestic hot water, and space heating. In this application, the physical efficiency of collectors is usually better than 50%. (Electric panels are at best 10% efficient.) Parabolic reflectors don't come close to the cost-effectiveness of simple heating. You need a reflector, a working fluid, high-temperature pumps, generators, and some VERY cheap land to make it work.

[david foster]

This is a subset of the general category known as "solar thermal" and, contrary to the implication of the article, at least a couple of companies are pursuing it. One of the main attractions is that it has inherent storage capability: heat is stored in some medium (typically molten salt) and, when you want the power, you run water through it and power a turbine with the resulting steam.

A big issue is the need for transmission lines to get the power to where it is needed. I feel very confident that every single mile of the transmission line construction will be litigated, in many cases by "environmentalists" who claim to favor renewable energy.