Posted on 06/21/2016 11:11:48 AM PDT by rktman
It sounds like they have an interesting concept with storing heat energy within molten salt. Good idea. Easier than making a giant Lithium Energizer Bunny Battery, which is what exactly I'd expect from a half-assed government project with near-unlimited finding.
Except that it doesn't work as designed, and the PR flaks lie about performance. Which is also *exactly* what I'd expect from a government project.
I've made a prediction....in a few years (5? 7?), when all of the government funding dries up and they move on to sexier technology, there will be massive, derelict solar farms scattered everywhere hither and yon. Just field after field of rotting solar panels, every one a potential Superfund site.
You heard it here first.
Headline alert! Sun on shingles produces heat! Sun on solar cells produces heat! Solar electricity used in the home produces heat! All energy use devolves into waste heat.
Solar simply does not work economically in the absence of huge government subsidies.
In a previous career, I spent a lot of time working with a customer that made fairly innovative solar cells. Most of their sales were in Europe, particularly Spain and Germany.
When both of those nations cancelled their subsidies, this company bankrupted soon after.
If you can get real honest numbers, alternative energy, especially on a large scale fails every time.
Solar to power a small set of lights, or a pool heater or some such works fine. Solar to power a plant or a city, not so much. This company didn’t even have solar on their own plants. I wonder why?
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/ivanpah-solar-plant-falling-short-of-expected-electricity-production
In fact now here in 2016,,,they are endanger of going under.
As little as 2 foot head with 450 gpm —> 70W. 10 foot head at 1000 gpm —> 1000W. Power output non-linear based simply on gpm rate.
http://www.microhydropower.com/our-products/low-head-stream-engine/
Those batteries require the very caustic process of mining for things like lead and nickel.
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Actually, lead is very environmentally friendly. Almost all lead is recycled.
I have 12KW PV’s on my roof and 3, 48V 1125 AH (@20hrs) batteries and while I did not do it to be environmentally friendly, I did it because the Federal Government would pay for 1/3rd of it and then I get nearly free electricity for the rest of my life. In Kentucky it supplies all my A/C and and heat most of the year. When the temp gets below 30° I turn on the gas boiler.
1. Flow battery
2. Molten metal battery
Crown brand lead-acid batteries are the most cost-effective batteries I’ve found for a home system or stealth camping trailer. Crown has been making industrial batteries for a long time.
The batteries have thick plates for the money and will be great for those preparing for the higher oil prices and debt collapse ahead. The layoffs of government employees, contractor employees and haircuts against pensions will be terrible and enormous indeed.
Think of the diesel powered mining material necessary to collect the raw materials. Think about the fossil fuels used in the coke ovens to create the steel framing. Think about the photovoltaics and electrical components. Think about the transportation of the raw materials and the component parts and then the finished products. Then, there is the electricity consumed in factories during assembly and routine business operation.
Good point. I didn’t think of that.
Because the company that put his solar panels up over-valued the project and then sold the tax credits generated to some company, who can now claim to be ‘green”.
We are all paying for those panels....:^)
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