Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Stirling engine can convert solar energy to electricity with an efficiency better than non-concentrated photovoltaic cells,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine 

Solar power generation

Placed at the focus of a parabolic mirror a Stirling engine can convert solar energy to electricity with an efficiency better than non-concentrated photovoltaic cells, and comparable to Concentrated Photo Voltaics. On August 11, 2005, Southern California Edison announced[64] an agreement with Stirling Energy Systems to purchase electricity created using over 30,000 Solar Powered Stirling Engines over a twenty year period sufficient to generate 850 MW of electricity. These systems, on an 8,000 acre (19 km2) solar farm will use mirrors to direct and concentrate sunlight onto the engines which will in turn drive generators. Construction is expected to begin on the farm in 2010[65], although there are disputes over the project[66] due to concerns of environmental impact on animals living on the site.

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