Eco Factor: Portable solar thermal generation systems from Aora Solar.
The photovoltaic market of today is broadly classified into two main categories – photovoltaic panels for even the smallest of uses and solar thermal generators, which span over acres of land and potentially generate megawatts of solar electricity for a city or two. Aora Solar has recently powered up a small-scale solar thermal generating system at the Kibbutz Samar in the Avara Valley, which with its small size can be used to generate solar thermal electricity for small communities or apartment blocks.
Since solar thermal energy generating systems don’t work during night or overcast days, Aora’s system follows a hybrid approach, allowing the generator to work on other fuels including bio-diesel, bio-gas and even natural gas to produce electricity around the clock. The system can be installed on just half an acre of land and using its 30-meter tall tower can generate about 100 KWs of green power, which is sufficient for powering about 50 homes courtesy the 30 heliostats the system is equipped with. Costing $500,000, the system’s hybrid approach will make sure that the community never runs out of power.
The Dark Side:
The $500,000 price tag for 100KW is far more expensive than other PV modules or wind generators, which too can work around the clock.
Via: GreenProphet
