Solar Power Cost

With solar power it is nowadays generally meant: energy which people themselves arouse with their technology directly from of solar. This happens at this moment in the Netherlands and Belgium especially at two manners:

    * Most used the application is thermal solar power where sunlight is converted into warmth. This happens by Solar water heaters(ie. solar collectors, - panels).
    * Another manner to use of sunlight by means of solar panels with photovoltaic warrants (also PV cells have been called). Those put it slightly direct for in electricity: sun nest solar.

The large problem at the practical use of this energy is that the solar constant, (maximum) the quantity energy which does not fall by square meter by unit of time on surface very large are. (approx. 1367 Watt by square meter in the upper layers of the atmosphere; on the ground less, depending on the cross-section of the intervening low air, the angle among which the sun finds the ground, the distance between the ground and the sun which changes something with the seasons, and especially also the prevention of clouds.) For this reason the energy concerning a rather large surface must become harvested to become economically profitable. The word applies harvests here certainly, because agriculture does nothing else harvest already centuries then solar power in form biochemically bound, such as starch in grains or potatoes.

For countries where the sun seems almost the complete day a good technology exists to harvest solar energy: concentrated solar energy, also thermally solar power called (in English: CSP: Concentrated Solar Power). The sunbeams are brought together by means of mirrors on a small surface, where a high temperature arises. With that high temperature steam is made, with which is aroused just like in an ordinary central electricity. CSP-technology are cheaper than PV-technology. In California have functioned for 1980s a number of CSP-plants with a common pick capacity of 350 MWe to full satisfaction.

Another form of durable solar power is the sun exactly ears. Air is warmed up solar  under a circularly shining through collector which is to the edge open. Thus the shining through roof forms a rise space air warmed up with the ground by the sun. In the middle of the circle stands vertical tower, which has a large diameter to the basis. Because hot air barge is then cold air, these take off by tower. Tower sucks in more air and there new cold air is invoked to the edge of the rise space. A ongoing flow of air can become reached by with water filled fails under the roof to place. By day and at night deliver they warm up these their warmth. Thus talk of a constant flow has been caused by solar . Energy which arises at this upward flow air is converted wind turbines into mechanical energy and with generators this mechanical energy is converted into electric energy.

For the illustration of the potential capacity of large-scale solar power the next example. The energy of Europe amounts to approx. 1020Joule/jaar. On the basis of an energy turnover with an output of approx. 15% an area in the Sahara with a surface of net approx. 50,000 square kilo meters would satisfy for all energy which in Europe it is used. See the orange gebiedje on the ticket in the Sahara. This is exclusive space for ways, lives and work in the area of the solar power plant. And subject to the problem of energy rise and - transport is solved. For such solar power plant in south-Europa (for example Spain, to see the illustration) roughly double surface would be necessary. With naturally the same marginal comment with regard to logistical and rise as named above. Moreover will be lain play at more northern call centres the difference between the seasons a larger role.