Crescent Dunes concentrating solar plant begins producing electricity

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electricity, Power, solar, USA

Crescent Dunes Solar Energy, a 110 megawatt (MW) concentrating solar power (CSP) electricity plant, began full operation in February. Crescent Dunes uses an energy storage system that developers expect will be able to store enough thermal energy to generate electricity for up to 10 hours after sunset or on cloudy days when direct sunlight is unavailable. Unlike most other CSP plants that use synthetic oil as the intermediary fluid, Crescent Dunes uses molten salt, which has more advantageous thermal properties.

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World’s largest concentrated solar plant switches on in the Sahara

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English, Power, Review Articles, solar, World

Morocco has switched on what will be the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. The new site near the city of Ouarzazate – famous as a filming location for Hollywood blockbusters like “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Gladiator” – could produce enough energy to power over one million homes by 2018 and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 760,000 tons per year, according to the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) finance group.

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