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The huge Ivanpah solar plant is part of a push to expand renewable energy on U.S. federal land. The developer took steps to relocate a population of the endangered desert tortoise, below. Photograph by Jim West, Alamy |
Mojave Mirrors: World's Largest Solar Energy Ready to Shine: "The Ivanpah Valley of the Mojave Desert in California is home to spiky yucca trees, long-nosed leopard lizards, loggerhead shrikes, and a rare species of tortoise—and soon, the largest solar thermal energy plant in the world.
More than six years in the making, the Ivanpah plant is now slated to begin generating power before summer's end. It was designed by BrightSource Energy to use more than 170,000 mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers positioned atop three towers, which reach nearly 500 feet (150 meters) into the dry desert air. The reflected sunlight heats water in the boilers to make steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity—enough to power more than 140,000 homes. (See related quiz, "What You Don't Know About Solar Power.")"
'via Blog this'
Solar power is all about harnessing the power of the sun to make power. The sun rainfall enough solar energy on the soil in one day to power the entire energy needs of the world for one year. Solar energy is considered a renewable power source because it will exist for as long as our sun does, estimated to be another 4.5 billion years. Solar power is furthermore considered a clean power because it does not make pollutants or byproducts hurtful to the natural environment.
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