Alireza Moharrer, ANS NORCAL Section Member, 2/13
February Dinner Meeting Announcement
Topic:
Utilization of Solar Energy in the United States
Abstract:
The objective of this presentation is to inform the audience of the utilization of solar energy in the US in the context of its defining aspects of science, engineering, technology, and development of commercial power projects. Looking from a science perspective and along the constraints of available technologies, there is a dual utilization grid of opportunities-challenges against our existing strengths and weaknesses. The presentation also takes a short but broad view approach toward our industrial interactions with the Earth environment and how best we could match our increasing demands with the vast reservoir of energy available through solar terrestrial radiation. References will be made to the US electric power grid as a vast network of complex and varied generating assets. The presentation will point toward an overview of the current grid structure and how it is meeting the impact of the increasing levels of commissioned utility scale solar power plants. The US South West region is the globally recognized and desired places for the development of large scale solar power plants. A brief description of some key representative solar (thermal and photovoltaic) power projects will be presented for their technologies, associated costs and their modes of operation.
Presentation Material:
Presentation Slideshow: Solar Energy Utilization in the United States (~4.2MB)