We all know just how vital it is to begin embracing clean energy. Our current model of relying on fuel, coal and traditional energy sources is not sustainable. As technology advances, we have several new alternatives, such as wind energy, fuel cell powered vehicles and more. Solar power however may just have the potential to change the way we look at energy.
The Center for American Progress recently released a study that examines how utilizing Concentrated Solar Power or CSP could effectively produce enough energy for 7% of the population as soon as 2030 and up to 25% by 2050. The center stated that CSP has the potential to be a “technology that will save humanity.”
Unlike wind generation and other forms of solar power, CSP works through heat and excess energy can actually be stored for future use. California was one of the first states to embrace this technology and they currently create enough energy to power 250,000 homes cheaply and efficiently. Arizona is another state that has gotten on board and will soon produce enough to power up to 500,000 or more homes.
The other main benefit of using CSP is the fact that it doesn’t take up as much space as other alternative energy generators. You can produce 1.5 to 3 times more energy for CSP in the same space for solar PV, and it uses much less space than is needed for traditional fuel harvesting.
CSP is also getting cheaper to produce, as more facilities come on line and knowledge about this technology broadens. It is expected that the price per kilowatt will continue to drop as more advances are made and more plants come on line.
A few obstacles exist that those interested in CSP will need to overcome over the next few years. These obstacles include a lack of general knowledge about this type of energy production, and as such, a lack of funding for new facilities. Another obstacle is finding engineers who are familiar with the CSP process and can help run new plants.
For engineers with an interest in developing clean energy technologies, this is an amazing time. New graduates are facing a wide open field and in-demand careers that have the potential to change the world.
Would you like to know more about an exciting career in this engineering field? Let the experts at Solopoint help you today!