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144 comments on Solar Islands: A new concept for low-cost solar energy at very large scale

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TJ on May 20, 2008 - 5:31pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

So maybe you don't use it for power during the winter. You use the solar collectors for direct heat.

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Francois Cellier on May 21, 2008 - 2:43am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

We need all technologies that we can get.

One of the beauties of small-scale solar solutions (collectors or photovoltaics) is that they are incremental systems. They may not provide the most efficient solutions economically, but economical considerations aren't the only considerations to be pondered.

A small-scale solar installation is something that every property owner with a bit of extra cash can do on his or her own, whenever it is most suitable. The technology is readily available; it doesn't take much of a planning; and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It should be possible to "convince" home owners to invest in such technologies either by suitable PR efforts or by legislation. Each installation on its own is a drop in the bucket, but together they can make a difference.

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TJ on May 21, 2008 - 8:10am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I'm also thinking that a universal power plant needs to be designed. Solar collectors to heat the working fluid, with alternate auxiliary fuel burners. No more pure fossil fuel burning plants.

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