Game changer - practical concentrated solar

[bpdougd]

This is kind of a big deal. If Heliogen goes on to make cheap, green hydrogen that's a real game changer.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/19/business/heliogen-solar-energy-bill-gates/index.html

 

[Pa]

Looks very interesting. Challenges will be scaling up, making viable in low sunlight areas, and energy storage. Mass-produced hydrogen solves the energy storage problem, but you still have to transport the hydrogen.

 

[MNglass]

So far it is just a demonstration project and it really isn't clear what AI has to do with it in any case. They are focussing a mirror on a spot, not trying to guess economic trends. I'm also a bit put off by their blasé "we'll just store the heat when the sun isn't shining"

I agree that hydrogen is the ultimate fuel - plentiful, pollution free, but difficult to "manufacture" and somewhat problematic to handle.

 

[Pa]

So far it is just a demonstration project and it really isn't clear what AI has to do with it in any case. They are focussing a mirror on a spot, not trying to guess economic trends. I'm also a bit put off by their blasé "we'll just store the heat when the sun isn't shining"

I agree that hydrogen is the ultimate fuel - plentiful, pollution free, but difficult to "manufacture" and somewhat problematic to handle.

I think the use of AI is in precisely focusing the mirrors.I agree that the spokesman overly simplifies the problems of energy storage.

 

[bpdougd]

I think the use of AI is in precisely focusing the mirrors.I agree that the spokesman overly simplifies the problems of energy storage.

I agree. The company has a right to brag a little about getting the focusing right and reaching 1000°. But the elephant in the room is energy storage: stationary storage for energy to use when the sun is not shining, mobile storage to get reasonable range from electric vehicles. To me the exciting prospect is cheap, non-polluting production of hydrogen. There are challenges there in handling and storage on mobile platforms. My suspicion is that if/when hydrogen becomes inexpensive and plentiful, the most practical way to use it will be in fuel cells.