Solar Power Scales Up (broadcast Friday, March 14th, 2008)

The SEGS IV power plant in the middle of the solar field. The field has many parallel rows of parabolic trough collectors that are tracking the sun. The cooling towers can be seen with the water plume rising into the air. The white water tanks can be seen Sandia National Laboratory, via NREL

Increasingly, individuals are adding solar panels to their homes and businesses. But is solar technology ready to provide power on a utility power plant scale? Megawatt-generating solar power plants are springing up in the southwestern United States. We'll find out more about the technology they're using and how much power might be generated. Could now barren desert lands turn into a major source of energy through solar power? In this segment, Ira talks with two developers of solar thermal power technologies. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests

Frederick Morse
Senior Advisor for the U.S.
Abengoa Solar
Washington, DC

David Mills
Chairman, Founcer, Chief Research Officer
Ausra Incorporated
Palo Alto, California

Mark Mehos
Program Manager
Concentrating Solar Power Program
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, Colorado

Related Links

Segment produced by:Annette Heist

Image: Solar troughs have a parabolic shape with mirrors aligned to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube located along the trough's focal line. There is fluid inside the receiver tube that is heated to a high temperature of approximately 300 degrees Celsius
Geri Kodey, via NREL

Image: A Dish Stirling Solar power system undergoing testing at the Arizona Public Service utility's Solar Test and Research Center in Tempe.
Bill Timmerman, via NREL