Comments on: Rooftop vs. Concentrated Solar: 20 Points of Comparison

By: Jim C.

Jim C. — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:43:12 +0000

The land-use issue is definitely the biggest problem. I don’t see how anyone who respects nature would want to massively increase the physical footprint of Man, ostensibly to reduce the carbon footprint. I especially don’t like wind turbines in that regard, since they stick out so much and are often placed on ridge-tops.

These are industrial landscapes, period. I’m tired of soulless people calling them “beautiful,” etc.

Isn’t there some way for power companies to lease space on people’s rooftops, in essence allowing them to install solar at no cost other than monthly billing? They could have smart-meters that prevent people from “stealing” the power that’s right above their heads. It really seems like a win/win scenario vs. desecrating more and more wild places and scenic views.

If large-scale concentrated plants MUST be built, they should only be located along major highways to minimize intrusion into undeveloped land.

By: jikish

jikish — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:44:12 +0000

I want to set up rooftop solar plant for my Home purpose. How it can be installed? Please let me now

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:28:14 +0000

Mike,

Thanks for commenting. It is good to see CSP plants built in close proximity to the urban landscape. However, I would posit that rooftops, parking lots, commercial buildings offer a much larger area in most urban locations. Then we could save those open swaths of land for community parks, wildlife, etc. Nonetheless, I will look more into this Great Park in Irvine…thanks for the tip.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:50:57 +0000

Many of the listed problems of concentrated solar are because production is so far away from consumption. I think concentrated solar should try to move production closer to the consumers. For example, here in Irvine, the city is taking 1300 acres to build “The Great Park”. eSolar can put a 46MW CSP power plant on 160 acres. There is lots of opportunity to put CSP into urban setting, without the need to scrape deserts and build miles of transmission towers. As for the Great Park, they will probably carpet it in grass and irrigate it… consuming tons of water daily.