Events & Programs : Discussion Series

Lecture Series Discussion Series Tour Series Happy Hour EnergyNight Alumni Resources Energy Conference Industry/Careers Entrepreneurship Education Campus Energy

"Large-Scale Solar: Thermal vs. PV"

6:00-7:00pm, Wednesday, February 20
Thirsty Ear Pub, Basement of Ashdown House
Leader: Eerik Hantsoo

Key Questions

1. For current installations, what are the different drivers in picking one technology over the other (thermal vs. photovoltaic)?
2. How do costs of these technologies compare?
3. Given costs, technology improvements, and resource bottlenecks, what are prospects for each technology in future years?

Handout

• Large-Scale Solar: Photovoltaic (PV) vs. Solar Thermal

Preparatory Readings

• http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/7150 (case: Nevada Solar One)
• http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=47541 (case: Waldpolenz Solar Park)
• http://www.solucar.es/sites/solar/en/geografias_eeuu_california.jsp (case: Frito-Lay factory)
• http://www.nrel.gov/csp/pdfs/35060.pdf (paper on economics of solar thermal)
  
• http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/faq.htm (solar thermal equipment manufacturer)
• http://www.solel.com/products/pgeneration/ls2/ (another solar thermal equipment manufacturer)
• http://www.firstsolar.com/products_applications.php (a leading PV equipment manufacturer for large installations)
• http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/34186.pdf (NREL overview)

Recommended Wikipedia articles: parabolic trough, solar thermal, solar cell, photovoltaic power stations