How clean is Green Energy?
Environmentalists discover that the World’s largest Solar Thermal Farm launched in California this February, is actually killing birds that fly around its extremely hot towers. This ‘Greener and Cleaner’ farm is alleged for hampering the survival of many other species –and this is where it sparks controversy in certain cautious corners.
The above would probably screen out of the successful inauguration of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border, spanning 13 square kilometers and producing around 400 MW. The $2.2 billion project by the joint collaboration of NRG Energy Inc., Google Inc. and BrightSource Energy, claims to provide sufficient energy for 140,000 homes annually. The giant project extracts solar energy by 350,000 computer-controlled mirrors to concentrate sunlight at a particular point on any of the three 140m high towers. These towers have heat tolerant water collectors. Water boils inside them producing steam, which is then used to drive turbine and hence generate electricity. The scheme requires no fossil fuel consumption, emitting absolutely zero greenhouse gases.
Theoretically it can operate even in the absence of bright sunlight. The mirrors automatically align themselves for optimum reflection at a useful point. The sum total reflections create a ‘heat zone’ around the towers; igniting a temperature as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not be too high for the collectors, but definitely is for the birds. Any bird flying through the zone scorches to severe burns if not already dead.
What kicks off controversy is probably “How clean is this Green Energy?” We are generating power at zero emissions (at an astonishingly high construction cost) because we love our planet; but slaughtering one important species as a side-effect. That’s not just birds or turtles—the entire Mojave habitat and its biological diversity are facing a serious threat to their survival. This immense technological success mutes their naïve, untamed voices. Harnessing energy is important, but should it be by pushing wildlife to the edge?
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is already in field with their short and long-term target plans. Not just in the US, an inspirational movement towards green has started globally. Solar panels pose friendlier, but costlier options. Solar thermal, on the other hand, is a cheaper alternative that cannot be ruled out. The Ivanpah is estimated to save 400,000 metrics tones of carbon emissions with a 2-year study to minimize effects on wildlife. Adverse effects cannot be avoided; they can be minimized—and when done so: Ivanpah can be truly motivating. Extensive R&D is advised to carefully keep out wildlife and any threatening adverse effects while promoting the motto—Go Greener.
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Greenshine New Energy, LLC. Specializes in developing and manufacturing customized solar powered lighting systems for a wide range of lighting applications. At Greenshine we specialize in solar street lights, garden lights, and lawn lights for outdoor applications. Our lights can be installed anywhere, especially areas where grid tied electricity is not available.
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