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Spain overtakes US with world's biggest solar power station
Posted: 13 Jul 2010, 20:39
by Aurora
The Guardian - 13/07/10
With the new La Florida plant, the nation's solar power production is now equivalent to output of a nuclear power station.
Article continues ...
Viva La Espana!
Posted: 14 Jul 2010, 03:27
by kenneal - lagger
World Champions in more ways than one!
Posted: 14 Jul 2010, 09:23
by adam2
Very impressive, though probably not suited to UK conditions.
This is not PV, but solar thermal used to raise steam and run alternators.
This requires direct sun.
It is not economic on a small scale, but as this installation shows, it is viable for large installations.
The solar collectors are relatively low tech, and the rest of the plant is similar to coal burning power plant.
I would expect that substantial cooling water is required, unlike with PV.
In Africa there used to be a number of relatively small (10/50 KW) Solar steam raising plants, used for pumping water.
These condensed the spent steam in a condenser cooled by the water being pumped.
AFAIK most, perhaps all have been replaced by PV or grid power, or diesel engines.