1. Arizona Utility Tries Storing Solar Energy for Use in the Dark
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/business/energy-environment/arizona-utility-tries-storing-solar-energy-for-use-in-the-dark.html?ref=science
2. Category: Technology
3. Level: State
4. Content: Energy storage strategies
5. Importance: Currently solar energy is problematic due to high costs of energy storage through the night.
6. I just thought this was an interesting article about an energy storage stategy that seems to be showing promise. The most obvious way to store power for later use is by using batteries but for utilty purposes, it is very expensive due to the cost of the batteries themselves and because the batteries wear out over time. This new approach uses a molten salt solution in large black tanks to store heat, which is crucial for energy production in the trough style solar panels being used in Arizona. Another reason I thought this article was interesting is because when I was originally planning on majoring in engineering, I took a couple physics classes where we tried to make a personal, home-use trough style solar panel as a class project. We basically tried to make a U-shaped mirror, about 4 feet across with a black pipe fixed above it with water running through it. The mirror would focus sunlight on the pipe, heating the water inside to make it boil. The steam would come out of a nozzle at the end and turn a turbine that would in turn generate electricity. In the end, the project didn't work out, but don't worry guys. I still passed the class just fine. Our professor told us that a failed attempt was a common issue and that going through the process was what he really wanted us to learn from.
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