Molten Salt-Based Solar Power Plant

rcastro0 writes "Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies, announced today that it will start to commercialize a new type of solar power plant. A new company called SolarReserve will be created to provide heat-resistant pumps and other equipment, as well as the expertise in handling and storing salt that has been heated to more than 1,050 degrees Fahrenheit. According to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla 'Three percent of the land area of Morocco could support all of the electricity for Western Europe.' Molten Salt storage is already used in Nevada's Solar One power plant. Is this the post-hydrocarbon world finally knocking?"

Comments

sun renewable?

[achilles777033]

The system's main energy source, the sun, is renewable and costs nothing.

So Gene Wolfe was right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_new_sun/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Urth_of_the_New_Sun/

Re:sun renewable?

[rustalot42684]

I got in trouble for that in grade 5 when I pointed out that the sun would eventually die out. I was told "Well, it's not going to die out in our lifetimes". I replied with "So are oil and gas renewable resources if they aren't depleted before we die?". The teacher put on my report card " ... seems to have trouble distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable resources."

Waste salt

[Threni]

I hope they don't start dumping waste salt in the oceans...

I am be

[mi]

Is this be the post-hydrocarbon world finally knocking?

Slashdot editors are be the worst ever...

Re:Nuclear's the future.

[Smordnys s'regrepsA]

Ah, but didn't you hear, the sexbots will meet the demand!

I know this is somewhat OT

[MichaelCrawford]

Nuclear reactors can be made smaller and more efficient if they use liquid sodium for cooling. I think this may be because they can run at a higher temperature, which is more harmonious with the laws of thermodynamics.

But the US Navy refused to build any sodium-cooled submarine reactors. Finally a Congressional committee hauled Admiral Rickover in to a hearing to testify as to why he wasn't making better use of taxpayer's money.

To which he replied "This is what happens when sodium gets wet," and he threw a chunk of sodium into some water.

Re:No, it be the grammuh police

[UbuntuDupe]

I'm more more surprised that no one has yet made a grammar comment with a mocking pirate theme, like,

"Arrr, I think this be post-hydriecarba world knockin on 'r door, matey! It be a danger too, since less global waaaarmin means less 'f us!"

Re:Nuclear's the future.

[B3ryllium]

With apologies to The Tick ... Fission is a harsh mistress.

Re:Colonial Thinking Not Dead

[Bryansix]

British people are totally backwards. For proof look at their use of "Fanny Fun" to refer to straight sex between a man and a woman. The only Poofters are the ridiculous people who use such a word.

Photos what you've all been looking for.

[AbRASiON]

What is it with intetnet sites (slashdot, news sites, digg etc) having fascinating articles but no cool pictures to back them up?

Did anyone else groan intensely last year when 'worlds largest squid has been caught!' articles came up with no pictures?
"Meteor smashes into datacentre"
"Worlds largest seal clubs man in Alaska"
"100ft tall hot woman with massive breasts seen naked crossing major highway"
"Worlds coolest event happens! No pictures here!"

Anyhow to get the rant over with,.........
http://ucdcms.ucdavis.edu/solar2/photos/

That site is an existing site with one of these fascinating reactors, I found the site some time last year (and had a hell of a time finding the damn link in my history too) check it out purely for the cool factor, good stuff.