10-06-2012, 08:25 AM
A solar thermal plant uses heliostats to heat cold salts to superheated salts which can go directly to a steam turbine or stored in molten salt, for 24/7 base load power. It does require a large footprint for the mirrors but there is a lot of dry open land on Lanai. This plant in Australia cost $400+ million for 20MW, a lot for a utility but not for somebody that can be their own utility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMWIgwvbrcM
Australia's Energy Security - 24/7 Concentrated Solar Thermal Power plus Molten Salt Storage
The only thing is Lanai comes under Maui county. This is going to be quite a theater when all that starts hitting the Maui county council.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMWIgwvbrcM
Australia's Energy Security - 24/7 Concentrated Solar Thermal Power plus Molten Salt Storage
The only thing is Lanai comes under Maui county. This is going to be quite a theater when all that starts hitting the Maui county council.
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*