SOLAR+MIRRORS+-+Chui

Back to 11.1 Presentations



__**How does it work?**__
Solar mirrors are reflective surfaces used for collecting and reflecting solar energy. Since the mirrors capture and concentrate the rays of the sun onto a certain point (the solar receiver), systems using solar mirrors can produce very high temperatures (as high as 3000ºC!). The extreme heat can then be used to produce electricity by boiling water and releasing steam to drive a turbine.

__Example from around the world:__


__BrightSource Energy of Oakland's Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System__

This system use fields of mirrors in the Mojave Desert to capture and concentrate sunlight. It will generate enough power for 140,000 homes. Expected to be fully operational by mid-2013, Ivanpah also received a financial boost when power plant operator NRG Energy Inc. agreed to invest $300 million in the project, which will cost around $2 billion.

Ivanpah will occupy 3,600 acres of land near the Nevada border, southwest of Las Vegas. It will use fields of flat, rotating mirrors to focus sunlight on central towers filled with water.The extreme heat will then boil the water and produce steam, which will turn turbines and generate electricity.

__Energy changes involved..__
Light (from the sun) Heat (from the concentrated sun rays Electricity (from the turbine)

__Environmental Effects__
__Carbon emissions:__
 * Solar mirrors produce almost no carbon emissions of greenhouse gases
 * Doesn't burn oil
 * Doesn't produce toxic wastes

__Renewable energy:__
 * Sunlight will never run out. Hence, solar mirrors' energy supply will never run out; it's renewable



**__Advantages and Disadvantages__**
__Advantages:__
 * Because of its lack of pollution, it is ranked as one of the cleanest forms of energy on Earth
 * Solar mirrors' energy supply (sunlight) never runs out
 * Large scale solar thermal systems could mean storing the sun’s heat energy for later use, allowing the production of electricity even when the sun is no longer shining (e.g. at night)

__Disadvantages:__
 * While constructing and transporting the parts of the solar mirror, pollution may take place
 * A lot of space is needed and it is expensive
 * May be too bright when solar mirrors are reflecting light

Bibliography:

 * []
 * []
 * []
 * []