California leads the way to a fossil fuel-less world.
Solar Energy Today marks a momentous day for the United States, as the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) is officially producing energy for the first time. Owned by NRG Energy, Google, and BrightSource Energy, the system is located on a barren plot of federal land in the Mojave Desert, California, and is capable of producing 377 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 140,000 homes.
The project took three years to complete and is already starting to reduce California’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 400,000 tons per year. This single project will nearly double the amount of solar thermal energy produced in the United States, a testament to the efforts of President Obama’s energy department.
The successful launch of ISEGS is a shining example of how the United States is making dry, barren land work for humanity. As the system is now officially producing energy, the world can look to the United States as a leader in renewable energy.
How it Works – Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
The Imperial Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) in California has ushered in a new era of clean, infinite energy. By utilizing 170,000 software-controlled mirrors, each measuring 70 sq. ft., to track the sun in three dimensions and reflect the sunlight to boilers, ISEGS is able to produce high-temperature steam to turn a conventional turbine, creating electricity. This process is far more efficient than burning fossil fuels, and is the cleanest source of energy available.
This innovative power-tower solar thermal system is remarkable to behold, with its three 459-foot tall towers and 170,000 heliostat mirrors spread out on the desert floor. It is a perfect fit for a scene in a Star Wars movie, and a must-see for the 10 million-plus international tourists that visit California each year.
ISEGS’s electricity output is delivered to homes and businesses in San Francisco, one of the country’s leading cities for solar power. This is a testament to California’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as outlined in the state’s landmark 2006 Assembly Bill 32: Global Warming Solutions Act.
The Imperial Solar Electric Generating System is a testament to California’s commitment to clean, renewable energy. With this, the state has shown the world how to thrive in a CO2-saturated environment, while also proving that even in cloudy climates, solar power can still be a viable option. ISEGS is a revolutionary process, and a powerful example of what can be achieved with clean, infinite energy from the sun.
Growing Desertification Creates a Ripe Challenge for Concentrating Solar Power
The world’s arable land is facing an alarming rate of desertification, largely due to excessive levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The World Meteorological Organization has stated that desertification and climate change are inextricably linked, as land degradation and precipitation are both impacted by rising CO2 levels.
In China, the situation is particularly dire. According to the State Forestry Administration, 25% of the country is affected by desertification, with an estimated 1,000 square miles of arable land turning to desert each year – the equivalent of losing a Rhode Island-sized landmass annually. The drought and water shortages that have plagued the country over the last four years have had a devastating impact on the lives of 400 million people, according to Li Xia’s report for the Epoch Times.
Africa is also facing an extreme degree of desertification, with the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report claiming that 20% of arid regions have already become desert.
Ironically, the CO2 emissions that are largely responsible for desertification have provided a potential opportunity to use these desert lands for concentrating solar power.
A Great Leap Forward but no Panacea
The Earth is blessed with an abundance of energy from the sun, with the potential to meet the world’s energy needs 6,000 times over. However, the cost of harnessing this energy is still a major concern. The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, for example, cost $2.2 billion, with the U.S. Department of Energy providing a loan of $1.375 billion. This loan guarantee was met with criticism from House Republicans. According to Synapse Energy Economics, the cost of the system works out to $5,561 per KW, which is comparable to the construction costs of coal and nuclear plants.
The Integrated Solar Energy Grid System (ISEGS) is a pioneering hybrid energy system, designed to reduce the carbon footprint of humankind. While it is not a panacea, it is a promising step in the right direction. ISEGS is designed to be a mini-hybrid, operating during daylight hours and relying on off-site third-party conventional natural gas or coal-fired plants to meet electricity demands during the night, cloudy days, and cold winter mornings. If ISEGS systems were spread across the world, it would make a significant contribution to reducing humanity’s carbon footprint.
The International Solar Energy Generating System (ISEGS) could be a game changer in the fight against climate change. If this technology is proven to be effective, it could be a major step forward in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Already, the current rate of CO2 emissions is at an all-time high, with 1,200 new coal-fired plants in the works across the globe. India and China account for 75% of this new capacity, and if only 25% of these plants are built, it could be enough to push the climate past a tipping point. However, if these plans are switched to concentrating solar power plants, like ISEGS, it could be a major step in the right direction. ISEGS has the potential to be a revolutionary technology, and if it is successful, it could be a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change.
Nobody wants a planet that is so hot that water laps up on the door of the New York Stock Exchange, and that is probably an understatement. Therefore, maybe, hopefully, the world’s wealthy elite will become interested in concentrated solar power (CSP) and open their wallets, which are stuffed full of ultra-big dollar bills, to fund more and more innovative, exciting, ground-breaking, life-saving CSP projects for a global green revolution. In this way, they may avoid having to worry about spending as much money on erecting dykes surrounding New York City as they will on CSP plants.
Postscript: On October 27, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke at the construction start date of the Ivanpah solar project, almost 26 years to the day of the opening of his film classic, The Terminator. His words echo the sentiment of the film, which states that “in the Year of Darkness, 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by changing the Past.” CSP presents the world with an opportunity to reshape the future by changing the way turbines turn for the first time in 200 years. Schwarzenegger’s presence at the event serves as a reminder of the potential of this project to revolutionize the energy industry.
