Solar Thermal -
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A Compendium of Solar Dish/Stirling Technology This technology compendium, which is international in scope, presents the results of a survey on the technology status, system specifications, performance, and operation of parabolic dish solar collectors that use Stirling engines to generate electrical power. Technical information on the engines used or to be used in dish/Stirling systems is also presented. This study uses consistent terminology to document the design characteristics of dish concentrators, receivers, and Stirling engines for electric generating applications, thereby enabling comparison of dish/Stirling technologies at both a system and component level. Development status and operating experience for each system and an overview of dish/Stirling technology are also presented.
American Solar Energy Society (ASES) A national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment.
Australian & New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES) The Society exists to promote social and economic development through the environmentally sound utilization of Solar Energy.
Average Daily Solar Radiation 1961-1990
Canadian Solar Industries Association The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) is a national organization involved in promoting the renewable energy industry in Canada and abroad through export of Canadian solar technology.
Catalog of Successfully Operating Solar Heat Systems Solar Energy Industries Association. For years, solar process heat systems have been contributing to hundreds of industrial, government, and commercial facilities in all regions of the U.S. - contributing significantly to their thermal energy loads. Today, solar thermal systems exist on over 1 million buildings throughout the U.S. and in aggregate constitute an equivalent thermal capacity of over one nuclear power plant. As an introduction to the many system applications for solar process heat technologies, this catalog has been published to give readers a detailed summary of several existing system designs and statistics of solar process heat systems in the field today.
Concentrating Solar Power Program The mission of DOE's Concentrating Solar Power Program is to help guarantee the energy, economic, and environmental security of the United States. To achieve this mission, our objective is twofold. First, we provide the technical support and economic/policy analyses which US industry needs to bring concentrating solar power technologies to near-term renewable energy markets. Second, we conduct research, technology development, and system demonstrations to enable US industry expansion into future markets.
Dish Stirling Systems Near Commercialization Schlaich Bergermann und Partner (SBP) of Stuttgart, Germany, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, CA, USA are currently testing pre-commercial versions of their solar, dish/Stirling, power generators "with an eye to" fielding commercial systems within the next 3 to 5 years. A dish/Stirling system operates by tracking the sun and reflecting sunlight to the focus of the dish where it is absorbed in a thermal receiver. The heat absorbed by the receiver is then transferred to the Stirling engine where it is converted to mechanical power, turns an alternator or generator, and produces electrical power. The most likely applications for the initial dish/Stirling systems are for remote and small village power.
Domestic Solar Water Heating Since 1895 when the first batch solar water heater was installed in California, solar thermal systems have grown to worldwide use in 100 countries. Various strategies have been employed to capture solar energy and make hot water for domestic use. The early systems used potable water, such as a batch heater, where the collector and storage are one unit, or thermosiphon, where a flat plate collector was coupled with a separate tank elevated above it. Both systems are passive, i.e., no pumps are used to circulate the solar heated water. A boost in performance was gained after WWII by utilizing an active approach, separating the collectors on the roof from the storage tank below and pumping the heated water between the two.
European Association for Solar Energy EUROSOLAR EUROSOLAR was founded in 1988, and is a non-partisan European Energy Organization that is independent of industry, political institutions, and special interest groups and has as its goal the replacement of nuclear and fossil fuels and their sources with environmentally sound energy sources, using both direct and indirect sources of a solar energy (= renewable energies), such as solar energy, wind energy, biomass, hydropower, and the ocean energies.
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) Offers (mostly) free publications on solar water heating, photovoltaics, energy-efficient buildings, transportation, and lighting. Education programs provide workshops and student information packets to students, teachers, and energy professionals.
Four Myths About Solar Power A brief article which corrects some misconceptions about solar power.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE conducts research on the technology needed to supply energy efficiently and on an environmentally sound basis in industrialised, threshold and developing countries. To this purpose, it develops systems, components, materials and processes in the areas of thermal use of solar energy, photovoltaics, solar architecture, electrical power supplies, chemical energy conversion and rational use of energy.
How Solar Thermal Trough Collectors Make Electricity Sunlight comes down and hits the curved mirror and bounces back to the pipe in the middle. The curved mirror acts like a giant magnifying glass, and focuses the sunlight into an intense, very hot spot on the metal pipe. In the metal pipe is water, and it quickly turns into steam. The steam comes out the end of the pipe and runs a steam engine. A generator is driven by the steam engine to produce electricity. In this way, as long as the sun shines large amounts of electricity are produced.
Information About the Solar Industry and Solar Technologies
International Solar Collectors, Inc. Conduct research and development in the solar thermal technology area. They are researching an inexpensive, alternative and renewable electrical power source, for ranchers, farmers and homeowners . They intend to meet the desire of the general public and Developing Nations, to be completely energy self-sufficient.
Million Solar Roofs The Million Solar Roofs Initiative will enable businesses and communities to install solar systems on one million rooftops across the United States by 2010. The Department of Energy will lead this trailblazing initiative by working with partners in the building industry, local governments, state agencies, the solar industry, electric service providers, and non-governmental organizations to remove market barriers and strengthen grassroots demand for solar technologies.
Mr. Solar Home Page Contact point for information, products and services about every aspect of solar, wind and water power. Subscribe to their Free monthly "E mail Newsletter", current "Ask Mr. Solar Column", over 100 articles on Alternative Energy written by energy experts, and Mr. Solar's User-Friendly Catalogue.
National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) The National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) is operated by Sandia National Laboratories for the U.S. Department of Energy. It is a test facility devoted to the development of the use of solar energy. Construction of the tower , (better known as the Power Tower), began in 1976 and was completed in 1978. The Power Tower is situated on 9 acres, the heliostat field accounting for about 8 acres.
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Renewable Energy - Solar Thermal -
General | Solar Thermal | Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)
Wind | Hydroelectric | Biomass | Alternative Fuels
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) | Wave Energy
Tidal Energy | Geothermal Energy
Energy - General | Energy Conservation and Efficiency | Renewable Energy
Value/Benefits of Renewable Energy | Utility Integration of Renewables
Sustainable Development | Sustainable Tourism | Village Power/Rural Electrification
Energy Incentive Programs/Financing Alternatives
Energy Economics/Environmental Economics
Avoided Cost Determination/Externalities
Energy Facility Siting and Permitting
Energy and Environmental Education | Environmental Issues
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles | Solar Cars | Human Powered Vehicles
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David Rezachek
