Solar tower of power coming to Spain, Abu Dhabi

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9893102-54.html

March 13, 2008 8:12 AM PDT

Solar tower of power coming to Spain, Abu Dhabi

Posted by Martin LaMonica | Post a comment

Spanish renewable energy firm Sener and the Abu Dhabi's clean energy initiative Masdar announced a joint venture on Wednesday to build several power plants fueled by the sun's heat.

The newly created firm, Torresol Energy, said it plans to build at least two large concentrating solar power plants a year with a goal of generating 320 megawatts over the next five year and 1,000 megawatts in 10 years. A large coal-fired power plant typically can produce hundreds of megawatts of electricity.

In a tower construction, several mirrors are mounted on the ground to reflect light to the top of a tower where steam is created to turn an electricity turbine. A handful of other companies, including BrightSource Energy and eSolar, are pursuing a similar tower design.

The new company underscores the surge in investment on solar thermal technologies which use the sun's heat, rather than photovoltaic panels, to generate electricity.

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