Outdoor Adventure USA

Tuesday during our Borrego run, John and I were discussing some of the BLM land usage weirdness. I mentioned all of the proposed solar power plants for the Mojave. All of the proposed plants are sited on public land and will be using public funds for construction. I understand the need for renewable energy sources but I also believe that there are other methods besides carving out 5-10,000 acre sections of the Mojave and dropping a bunch of mirrors on the desert floor. If you're interested in what's being proposed and the surrounding issues, here are some great resources that I've been reading over the past couple of months.

Coyote Crossing
Mojave Desert Blog
Basin and Range Watch
Solar Done Right
Mojave Desert Land Trust

Here are some resources for the planned development of the Mojave

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System
Abengoa Mojave Solar Project
Calico Solar Project
High Desert Corridor
Pending Solar Projects

Yeah it does not make sense; since we all have roofs to put the panels on and can support the grid that way... oh I know the companies that transport energy want to make more $$$.

JJ

smslavin wrote:I understand the need for renewable energy sources but I also believe that there are other methods besides carving out 5-10,000 acre sections of the Mojave and dropping a bunch of mirrors on the desert floor. If you're interested in what's being proposed and the surrounding issues, here are some great resources that I've been reading over the past couple of months.

Thanks for all the great URL's.

photojeeper wrote:Yeah it does not make sense; since we all have roofs to put the panels on and can support the grid that way... oh I know the companies that transport energy want to make more $$$.

The panels that are install on homes are photovoltaic. They convert sunlight directly to electricity.

The proposed solar projects in the Southern California deserts use mirrors to reflect the sunlight to a central point (Heliostat power plants) where liquid sodium is superheated. This hot liquid sodium then is used to boil water into steam. The steam is used to spin turbines connected to generators. Similar to natural gas fired plants.

The Southern California and Arizona deserts are the most ideal locations for these plants due to the number of days per year they receive full cloudless sunlight. At night these plants would keep the turbines spinning by burning natural gas or propane.

However, these plants, even the most efficient, use an enormous amount of ground water. These plants would be pulling water from wells drilled on the site of the plant. Some of the proposed plants may use up 325,851,400 gallons (100 afy) per year from the local water table.

Oh I am aware of how that is done. The Kramer Junction Solar power plant is one of 4 that they have. Yes I agree about the use of water etc. I am not a fan of that type of Solar power. Just like Geothermal it uses both lots of land and water. Photovoltaic to me is the best; less maintenance and cost effective. The cost of production is going down and the quality is going up (the US versions that is).

JJ