Concentrated Solar Power

[poliphilo]

The Guardian has an article about how we could solve the coming energy crisis by putting big, big, big solar mirrors in the North African desert. As a by-product the mirrors would produce huge amounts of desalinated water. 

Win-win. 

The technology is called CSP- Concentrated solar power.

Remember how you used to fry toy soldiers with a magnifying glass? This works on the same principle. The sun's rays are concentrated and beamed onto flasks of some special liquid that gets super hot and is used to power conventional steam turbines. 

Oh and by the way, no CO2 emissions. 

I love these sci-fi solutions. They're what the 21st century ought to be about. Really, folks, instead of killing one another over knotty points of medieval theology we should be filling the Sahara up with mirrors.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Spain is contributing in its own small way, at least for its own benefit. All new building construction, must have solar panels as part of the standard equipment. That goes for all new houses, apartment buildings, commercial and industrial buildings etc.
A whole desert full of solar panels...what a concept! I suspect though, that *somebody* would have a gripe with that.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

In Britain we've not gone beyond the odd experimental project.

But I've noticed that they've started selling solar panels in the DIY stores.