Holy heatwave batman!

Unicorn · February 14, 2014, 04:40:11 PM

I've always been going to build one of these ......... perhaps on a more micro scale .......... now they've actually done it! WOW!

(A friend posted this link on fb)

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/13/5408686/ivanpah-solar-plant-begins-commercial-operation

trout · February 14, 2014, 04:43:43 PM

Just imagine having to clean all of those bloody mirrors :whistle2::to_pick_ones_nose_eat:

Triggersmob · February 14, 2014, 07:25:10 PM

I had a feeling that they already had something similar in Germany.

Did a quick search and found it. Also found one in Spain.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/leaders-in-alternative-energy-germany-turns-on-world-s-biggest-solar-power-project-a-643961.html

Fulvio · February 15, 2014, 01:39:14 AM

Quote from: 'Triggersmob' pid='41630' dateline='1392368110'I had a feeling that they already had something similar in Germany.

There are quite a few all over the place, including the US. But none as big as this one.

As for the mirrors, they have robots to clean them.

robbiegal · February 15, 2014, 07:37:35 PM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='41620' dateline='1392358211'I've always been going to build one of these ......... perhaps on a more micro scale .......... now they've actually done it! WOW!

(A friend posted this link on fb)

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/13/5408686/ivanpah-solar-plant-begins-commercial-operation

wow
Australia is sooo behind the times - we could have dozens of these things in oz

Unicorn · February 15, 2014, 07:41:02 PM

Yes we are RG. I remember years back Dick Smith wanted to dig a channel from the ocean to central Australia to create an inland sea and establish a big hydrogen energy plant.

Wonder if it ever went further than a dream?

robbiegal · February 15, 2014, 07:43:54 PM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='41620' dateline='1392358211'I've always been going to build one of these ......... perhaps on a more micro scale .......... now they've actually done it! WOW!

(A friend posted this link on fb)

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/13/5408686/ivanpah-solar-plant-begins-commercial-operation

wow
Australia is sooo behind the times - we could have dozens of these things in oz

Triggersmob · February 15, 2014, 07:58:52 PM

I prefer the idea of a solar panel road.
Imagine, we could create 1000s of jobs, constructing a huge 4 lane highway from Perth to Brisbane and create enough energy to power Australia, just about.

http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml

Unicorn · February 15, 2014, 08:28:56 PM

Geez, that's pretty neat Steve!

Fulvio · February 15, 2014, 08:33:50 PM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='41778' dateline='1392455462'Yes we are RG. I remember years back Dick Smith wanted to dig a channel from the ocean to central Australia to create an inland sea and establish a big hydrogen energy plant.

Wonder if it ever went further than a dream?

Hah! No really cool idea ever gets off the ground in Oz.

Many many years ago, I researched this idea, after going to Lake Torrens, which is 34' below sea level. It would take a ditch about 80km long from the tip of Spencer Gulf to fill the salt lakes, which are all part of the ancient seabed anyway. Guess what reaction I got to this idea? "Oh, you can't do that, its environmental vandalism" or words to that effect. Never mind that the earth itself could one day decide to sink the whole middle of the country below sea level... that's fine, cos its "natural". You can't cut a tree down, or even give it a decent haircut, but one spark can level entire forests, and that's "natural".

And therein lies our problem. The morons have too much power for anything to ever get done. That's why all our good ideas get built overseas, and we miss out on the benefits.

Robster · February 15, 2014, 08:35:59 PM

Fantastic concept, perhaps in the U.A.E. where money and sunlight is plentiful would be a great test area.!! :idea:

Goldseeker · February 15, 2014, 10:22:31 PM

I heard some time ago that Australia was to build the world's largest solar power system. Is that gone by the wayside now or what?

trout · February 15, 2014, 10:29:58 PM

Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='41797' dateline='1392465151'I heard some time ago that Australia was to build the world's largest solar power system. Is that gone by the wayside now or what?

When there are "Kick Backs" from Coal , Oil and gas in the form of royalties and other dodgy deals NO government is going to provide efficiant pollution FREE solar electricity :@:dodgy:

Fulvio · February 16, 2014, 01:53:40 AM

Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='41797' dateline='1392465151'I heard some time ago that Australia was to build the world's largest solar power system. Is that gone by the wayside now or what?

There were two main power contenders.

The solar chimney at Mildura, which got bogged down and now looks set to be built overseas.

The Cooper Basin geothermal plant, which pretty much got torpedoed by demands they pay for 400km of high-voltage transmission line to connect to the grid (unlike Alcoa, which got their line for free, with super-cheap electricity thrown in).

And there's always talk of large scale PV farms, but they never seem to happen.