The last time we came this way we noticed that it looked like a lot of solar was going in. Well it's in, it's solar as far as the eye can see! Wow, I can't even begin to imagine what the capacity is on all these panels. What we can do with two panels on our roof is mind blowing so what can 100+ acres do? I just need to do some research and find out more, I'll get back to you on this one.
Research on that solar farm near Gila Bend The Solana Generating Station we drove by earlier this week was completed in 2013. When commissioned it was the largest parabolic trough plant in the world and the first U.S. solar plant with molten salt thermal energy storage. The plant has a total capacity of 280 megawatts from two 140 MW steam turbine generators, which is enough to power 70,000 homes while avoiding around 475,000 tons of CO2 every year. I was off just a little on the size and scope of the plant, it covers an area of 1,920 acres. Solar thermal plants use substantially more water for cooling than other solar generating technologies, but the Sierra Club supports the Solana plant, because it will be built on private land, and use "75 to 85 percent less water than the past agricultural use of the land.
No comments:
Post a Comment