Japan is planning to build huge floating solar power plants

[ScienceRocks]

Japan is planning to build huge floating solar power plants

Fiona MacDonald
Monday, 01 September 2014

Japan may be short on free land space, but that’s not stopping them from investing in renewable energy. Solar panel company Kyocera Corp, Century Tokyo Leasing Corp and Ciel Terre have announced (release in Japanese) that they're teaming up to create two huge floating solar power plants which will be up and running by April next year.

These are just the first two of a planned network of around 30 floating 2 megawatt (MW) power plants, capable of generating a combined 60 MW of power, a spokesperson from Kyocera told Chisaki Watanabe from Bloomberg.

Read more: http://www.scienceal...0109-26104.html

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Between offshore wind and offshore solar. The entire world could be powered this way!

 

[Moonglow]

How's the floating airport they built doing? I was impressed with the engineering...

 

[Shrimpbox]

While I love your energy posts Mathew there are some things that bother me about these solar displays. If someone from a radical Islamic group wanted to degrade our energy grid these solar things look awful easy to blow up. I have to wonder what a sunami would do to this. It isn't all pie in the sky.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Neat. Would think they could make em multipurpose though. If going through all that trouble and not then exploiting tidal and wind as well it's a missed opportunity.

 

[elektra]

Easy to blow up, the size is measured in miles, so it's easy to blow up mile and miles of stuff.

Another stupid solar idea.

First they produce so little we must start thinking about how to cover the entire ocean with solar.

 

[Againsheila]

Makes more sense than the nuclear reactor still leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

 

[elektra]

Makes more sense than the nuclear reactor still leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

Actually no, another reactor would be designed with computers, the old reactor was designed 50 years ago.

Takes a lot of energy to build these solar plants, it takes million tons of material, it takes fossil fuels to build and construct the world's largest structures, such as solar.

Another proposes to increase heavy industry for failing solar projects.

We just cannot produce enough.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

It's their money if they want to throw it away.

 

[elektra]

But it is the world's resources going to build the world's largest structures. That creates pollution.

How will they clean the salt water off is the only obstacle.

 

[Againsheila]

Makes more sense than the nuclear reactor still leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

Actually no, another reactor would be designed with computers, the old reactor was designed 50 years ago.

Takes a lot of energy to build these solar plants, it takes million tons of material, it takes fossil fuels to build and construct the world's largest structures, such as solar.

Another proposes to increase heavy industry for failing solar projects.

We just cannot produce enough.

The sun is endless, what do y mean we can't produce enough? Besides if a solar plant fails, people don't get cancer.

 

[hadit]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

 

[ShackledNation]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

 

[hadit]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Electricity is notoriously hard to store. That is why the power plants have to be careful to only produce as much power as is needed at the moment. Solar energy will have to be stored as something other than electricity.

 

[ShackledNation]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Electricity is notoriously hard to store. That is why the power plants have to be careful to only produce as much power as is needed at the moment. Solar energy will have to be stored as something other than electricity.

Electricity is hard to store, very true. But you are incorrect that solar energy cannot be stored. There have been several recent innovations in this respect. Here is just one example.
Solar Thermophotovoltaic Cells Can Generate Electricity at Night ENGINEERING.com

Here is another example of storing energy.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

It is difficult, but with a power grid it is very possible.

 

[elektra]

Makes more sense than the nuclear reactor still leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

Actually no, another reactor would be designed with computers, the old reactor was designed 50 years ago.

Takes a lot of energy to build these solar plants, it takes million tons of material, it takes fossil fuels to build and construct the world's largest structures, such as solar.

Another proposes to increase heavy industry for failing solar projects.

We just cannot produce enough.

The sun is endless, what do y mean we can't produce enough? Besides if a solar plant fails, people don't get cancer.

the sun is endless?

What is a Solar Plant made of? How many tons does it weigh. What kinds of Fossil Fuel is used in the manufacture of the Solar Plant.

Nobody gets cancer when a solar plant fails? Seems like they get recycled when they fail, at the least. Recycling requires Fossil Energy, which causes cancer, yes?

Solar Plants cost billions more to build than Fossil plants, how far can you borrow into the future to pay for this, I guess that is what really is "endless" when it comes to Solar

 

[hadit]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Electricity is notoriously hard to store. That is why the power plants have to be careful to only produce as much power as is needed at the moment. Solar energy will have to be stored as something other than electricity.

Electricity is hard to store, very true. But you are incorrect that solar energy cannot be stored. There have been several recent innovations in this respect. Here is just one example.
Solar Thermophotovoltaic Cells Can Generate Electricity at Night ENGINEERING.com

Here is another example of storing energy.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

It is difficult, but with a power grid it is very possible.

And how much will it cost, and how long will it take to bring those to maturity so they can replace fossil fuels? Answer to both, a lot.

 

[elektra]

Solar does not replace fossil fuel, Solar consumes fossil fuel

 

[ShackledNation]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Electricity is notoriously hard to store. That is why the power plants have to be careful to only produce as much power as is needed at the moment. Solar energy will have to be stored as something other than electricity.

Electricity is hard to store, very true. But you are incorrect that solar energy cannot be stored. There have been several recent innovations in this respect. Here is just one example.
Solar Thermophotovoltaic Cells Can Generate Electricity at Night ENGINEERING.com

Here is another example of storing energy.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

It is difficult, but with a power grid it is very possible.

And how much will it cost, and how long will it take to bring those to maturity so they can replace fossil fuels? Answer to both, a lot.

Sure, a lot. But no longer than it would take to build a new coal power plant, or store excess energy produced by coal, etc. Your point was that solar energy is a problem because electricity is hard to store. I showed you examples of technology that demonstrates solar energy can in fact be stored. In response, you change the subject to costs, changing the line of argument.

 

[elektra]

Solar, a waste of land and fossil fuel, for the fools, solar is not, "manufactured", it's simply a miracle.

solar advocates are very ignorant.

 

[hadit]

Solar is great, during the day. It can ADD to a nation's power grid, but it cannot (yet) replace other means of energy production. This idea looks good on paper, but has massive vulnerabilities. No need to blow anything up, just cut the power line, and one cyclone would at least put it out of production if not totally destroy it.

Wind is even less reliable. Now if we could put some windmills up in the jet stream...

Solar energy produced during the day can be stored for use at night. Nuclear, coal, and other power plants can just as equally be blown up, so that is not in any way a drawback of solar power.

In fact, if solar panels were installed on all buildings, power generation would be more spread out and thus more secure.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Electricity is notoriously hard to store. That is why the power plants have to be careful to only produce as much power as is needed at the moment. Solar energy will have to be stored as something other than electricity.

Electricity is hard to store, very true. But you are incorrect that solar energy cannot be stored. There have been several recent innovations in this respect. Here is just one example.
Solar Thermophotovoltaic Cells Can Generate Electricity at Night ENGINEERING.com

Here is another example of storing energy.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

It is difficult, but with a power grid it is very possible.

And how much will it cost, and how long will it take to bring those to maturity so they can replace fossil fuels? Answer to both, a lot.

Sure, a lot. But no longer than it would take to build a new coal power plant, or store excess energy produced by coal, etc. Your point was that solar energy is a problem because electricity is hard to store. I showed you examples of technology that demonstrates solar energy can in fact be stored. In response, you change the subject to costs, changing the line of argument.

I disagree. The whole point to my argument is that it will take far more than today's solar technology to replace fossil fuel energy production. We're headed in a good direction, and in the future, solar may well play a significant role, but the dream of solar powering the world isn't going to happen in our lifetimes, unless someone can figure out how to get massive panels into space where the sun doesn't set, and get the electricity back to earth. Now, as to storing electricity produced by coal, we don't. We just don't burn the coal unless extra power is needed. That's called capacity, and why you hear about power plants running at less then 100%. They need to be able to take units offline for maintenance, for example, without disrupting power production.