Aluminum Plays Key Role in World’s First Hybrid Solar Energy Plant
23/06/2010
A global aluminum company called Norsk Hydro is supporting green jobs in the U.S.U.S. Two of the company’s southeastern U.S. facilities will supply aluminum frames and other parts for a new hybrid concentrating solar facility for Florida Power & Light.
A global aluminum company called Norsk Hydro is supporting
green jobs in the U.S.U.S.
Two of the company’s southeastern U.S. facilities will supply
aluminum frames and other parts for a new hybrid concentrating solar facility
for Florida Power & Light. Apparently the first power plant of its
kind, the 500 acre solar thermal array will connect with an existing natural
gas-powered plant, replacing the fossil fuel energy with solar energy during
daylight hours.
In addition to growing the U.S. green jobs sector, Hydro
executive Matt Dionne points out that regional sourcing was an important factor
in securing the contract because it cut energy costs and greenhouse gas
emissions related to shipping, and it enabled the utility company to
demonstrate its commitment to local economic growth. The financial
advantages of just-in-time delivery to the construction site also played a big
role. As more utilities join the vanguard of sustainable energy investment,
those benefits provide a stark contrast to the economic and environmental havoc
wreaked by the world’s latest fossil fuel disaster.
Florida Power & Light and Solar Energy
The new solar array, located in Indiantown, will consist of
180,000 curved mirrors supported by aluminum frames manufactured by
Hydro. When completed, it will produce 75 megawatts. It’s just the
latest in a string of renewable energy investments for Florida Power &
Light, which is also invested heavily in wind power along with other solar
projects, including the world’s largest solar-thermal plant, a 310-megawatt
behemoth in the Mojave Desert. The
company’s conservation programs have also helped enable it to avoid
constructing new fossil fuel power plants since 1980.
Florida and a National Clean, Renewable Energy
Policy
Years ago, the state of Florida chose not to invest its future in
the risky business of offshore oil drilling, in favor of promoting a tourist
industry that has an incentive to protect and preserve natural assets instead
of destroying them. Governor Charlie Crist articulated that commitment when the
new solar plant broke ground in 2008, stating, “Florida’s future growth and economic
strength depends on how we address climate change, and we know we can reduce
greenhouse gases by using fewer fossil fuels and more natural energy sources
like solar.” Despite its foresight, Florida
will suffer from the effects of the BP oil spill along with the rest of the
Gulf coast states. It’s a clear demonstration of the need for a strong
national clean energy policy that unites all 50 states toward a common goal.
As we face these effects of climate change, conserving water becomes increasingly important. Saving water also means saving money; the average American family spends more than $1,000 on water a year, which can be diminished significantly by addressing the way we use water in our daily lives.
Power is essential for lighting and running appliances at homes and in businesses. With its ever-increasing costs, consumers constantly compare electricity in addition to other practical ways to save electricity.
Quantum chemists believe gold, silver and copper could help the world take a leap towards green energy after discovering that compounds based on these metal elements and hydrogen are very promising candidates for hydrogen storage.
In addition to navigating a deadly pandemic, improving energy efficiency is likely the top priority for today’s building owners facing costly, mandatory retrofits by 2025.
The rush to invest in wind energy to take advantage of the Government's pricing incentives could lead to overloading of the national grid in a repeat of the solar scenario, experts warn.
