How Mirrors Could Power the Planet... and Prevent Wars

Concentrated solar power might just revolutionize the energy sector as we know it.

Science & Tech 20:25 20.06.2021
When most people think of solar power, they picture rows and rows of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of a building. But photovoltaic power is terribly inefficient — the mining and refining of the elements required for daily human life are incredibly costly to the environment.
 
Fortunately, there are much greener ways to harness sunlight for electricity, and concentrated solar power is one of them. Concentrated solar power is produced using a large amount of revolving mirrors called heliostats which are placed in a relatively flat area that receives a great deal of sunlight.
 
The mirrors are angled to reflect the sunlight onto a large solar receiver. Aside from being clean energy, one of the most promising advantages of concentrated solar power is that it can generate energy for use far beyond where it was harvested.
 
The idea of concentrated solar power isn't particularly new — the first commercial plant was developed in the 1960s. But in the past, it wasn't cheap enough to implement on a massive scale. Thanks to advancements in technology, that could be changing soon.
 
How Concentrated Solar Power Could Fuel the World
 
If this energy source has so much potential, why isn't it more mainstream? The answer lies in the simple fact that fossil fuels are still cheaper. For now, at least. A growing company backed by Bill Gates is attempting to produce concentrated solar power at scale, to the point that it's more cost-effective than fossil fuels. If successful, it could revolutionize the energy sector as we know it.
 
Founded by serial entrepreneur Bill Gross, Heliogen is seeking to completely replace fossil fuels with solar thermal energy. What makes the company unique? It's making the process of reflecting and storing sunlight more predictable, controllable, and streamlined. Previously, CSP companies were able to generate heat anywhere from 400 to 500 degrees centigrade. Heliogen has more than doubled that output.
 
They've created a solar thermal system that's capable of producing temperatures up to 1,500 degrees centigrade. The Heliogen team found a way to use machine learning to get the angle of the mirrors as precise as possible, down to a twentieth of a degree.
 
In short, Heliogen uses cameras to monitor the mirrors in the field, particularly, how the color of the sky appears in the mirrors. Based on the appearance of the sky, Heliogen's AI decides how to best position the mirrors to get the maximum amount of sunlight reflected.
 
Once the mirrors are in the optimal position for reflecting sunlight, all of the collected heat gets funneled down an insulated steel tube to a bed of rocks. The rocks can store and retain heat as thermal energy well after the sun sets. Heliogen uses that energy like batteries to power industrial processes, or to split water and create hydrogen, which can be refined into a carbon-free fuel.
 
Heliogen has an award-winning test facility in Lancaster, California with 400 heliostat mirrors, but eventually plans to build a system with 40,000 mirrors. "To power the earth, we need to cover hundreds of square miles," Gross explains. "But covering hundreds of square miles needs to be done cost effectively."
 
The construction of this giant sunlight refinery will be highly automated, with robotic tractors to place the heliostat foundations and set the mirrors efficiently. "Beating the price of fossil fuels is the only thing that matters," says Gross. "If we can be even a fraction of a cent cheaper than fossil fuels, the world will adopt this at scale."
 
If adopted globally, concentrated solar power could make major waves in the manufacturing industry, not to mention prevent wars over oil and mitigate climate change. If we can eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, humanity's carbon footprint would be drastically smaller.
 
Gross' dream is to have thousands of sunlight refineries across the southwest United States, Australia, and the Middle East-North Africa region by the end of the decade. If he can pull it off, the way we consume energy would be changed forever.

 

Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Russia prepares for new offensive in May-June l – says Zelensky
23:52 28.03.2024
Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists
22:24 28.03.2024
Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Hamısı