Comments on: Concentrated Solar Power: Another Great New-Old Idea

By: doctorpat

doctorpat — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:10:47 +0000

Another direct form of storing energy as heat (instead of electricity) offers hope for transport.

See fireless steam locomotives http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/newsteam/modern21.htm

By: MDarling

MDarling — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:22:19 +0000

CSP- using mirrors to ignite wood, especially wood coated with tar or pitch, from a distance. 2200 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes

By: Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:49:42 +0000

Here's a related post. It includes a letter from a manufacturer of these systems. The "sun tracker" technology allows the mirrors to track the sun.

By: rjschwarz

rjschwarz — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:40:43 +0000

most of those homes mentioned by Karl would be empty during the workday. They would be adding power to the grid from a million directions which would not only help the power equation but ensure our power grid was more or less impervious to a large attack.

By: Phil Bowermaster

Phil Bowermaster — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:51:29 +0000

Good question. I have a feeling that whatever the answer is, it’s largely offset by the power used to air-condition buildings.

By: Karl Hallowell

Karl Hallowell — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:26:17 +0000

I wonder how much solar power actually goes into heating buildings (whether desired or not)? Dark roofs, south-facing windows (or north-facing in that other hemisphere) … it should add up.