Overview

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?

Handouts

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)

Large-Scale Solar: Thermal vs. PV

06:00-07:00PM Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Leader: Eerik Hantsoo
Location: Thirsty Ear Pub