Here's a bit more on solar thermal energy:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnpNSq6jfAU]James May (Top gear) visits solar thermal plant in Spain - YouTube[/ame]
Here's a bit more on solar thermal energy:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnpNSq6jfAU]James May (Top gear) visits solar thermal plant in Spain - YouTube[/ame]
Hendrik, where the hell have you been? You suddenly pop up again and start a stormin thread......btw they need you at Windorah....their small solar thermal plant is a white elephant.
btw, just been out at the Barcaldine generator, a 37mw gas turbine with cogen 13mw (I think) steam unit turbine that SHOULD run off the exhaust heat of the gas turbine...but the main unit only runs as booster type plant and ONLY runs when they can sell the power profitably, so they never run the steam turbine because the lead time required to start it is usually not enough by which time the gas turbine is shut down. It is this type of pathetic thinking that dampens the spirit of renewable energy for the end user.In the case of Windorah, I was told locals were extremely enthusiastic about jobs jobs jobs but the glow quickly wore when they had to consistently clean the collector mirrors.....I dont even think it ever produced any profitable power.....it is still brand spanking new.
Jut had a look at Wikipaedia .
Don't know how true but there it is.
I wonder how much per Kwh the subsidies are ? Does anyone know? and how much per Kwh is charged to the consumer?Quote:
Subsidy reductions
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the Spanish government drastically cut its subsidies for solar power and capped future increases in capacity at 500 MW per year, with effects upon the industry worldwide. "The solar industry in 2009 has been undermined by [a] collapse in demand due to the decision by Spain," according to Henning Wicht, a solar-power analyst.[6] In 2010, the Spanish government went further, retroactively cutting subsidies for existing solar projects, aiming to save several billion euro it owed.[3][14] According to the Photovoltaic Industry Association, several hundred photovoltaic plant operators may face bankruptcy.[15] Phil Dominy of Ernst & Young, comparing the feed-in tariff reductions in Germany and Italy, said "Spain stands out as an example of how not to do it."[16] As a result, a Spanish association of solar power producers has announced its intention to go to court over the government’s plans to cap solar subsidies.
Regards Philip A
Report by Reuters yesterday
Spain's new government could axe power subsidies | Reuters
Regards Philip A
Hey mate, I've been busy with my engineering thesis and my exams, finally free for a while again! The lack of use of the Windorah solar farm is news to me, the parabolic dish systems are the most efficient solar thermal systems available. For solar thermal to become viable we will need to see some sort of feed in tarrif, and even though I am not a carbon tax fan at all, hopefully this will be come available over time. The cuts in incentives in Spain and the rest of Europe are not a surprise, the Eurozone is in crisis, so incentives towards "ambitious" projects such as renewable energy gets shut down first in times of crisis.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VGu-Hjj0iM]The ZeroGen Project - Low-emissions technology - YouTube[/ame]
here's a bit on IGCC, which I think will be the future of power generation in Australia.