China has inked an agreement with ESolar Inc. of Pasadena (CA) to
build a series of solar thermal power plants in China. It�s one of
the largest renewable energy plants of its kind, with a total
capacity of 2,000 megawatts.
Under terms of the deal ESolar agreed to a countertrade, i.e. they
will construct their power plant receivers in China, rather than in
the U.S. However ESolar will retain control of the intellectual
property behind the technology�s design and operation.
ESolar relies on a sophisticated software system and imaging
technology to control 176,000 small mirrors that form arrays at its
standard 46-megawatt power plant. The software positions the mirrors
to create a virtual parabola to focus the sun on the receiver tower.
The
mirrors� dimensions � each about the size of a television screen �
allow ESolar to make and install them cheaply and use less land for
the power plant.
