A solar tower generates electricity by using mirrors to focus sunlight. It is also known as a central tower power plant or a heliostat. An array of flat and movable mirrors transmits the sun's rays. This structure generates electricity from concentrated sunlight.
Avian vaporizers
Solar power towers have received the unenviable title of "avian vaporizers." More than 100 birds have been killed by the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System tower. Birds are killed by the intense solar flux that creates a dangerous circle of heat energy. A video obtained by Basin & Range Watch through a Freedom of Information Act request shows biologists filming birds in the solar flux. Scientists comment on this phenomenon, as they observe the whiteness of the birds, including the horned-larks. The video also shows the mirrors at the standby position creating a deadly circle of bird-trapping flux.
Heat engines
A heat engine that converts thermal energy into electricity has been developed by researchers at MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The new device is free of moving parts and offers a higher efficiency conversion than traditional steam turbines. It makes higher-energy photons of white-hot heat into electrical energy by using a thermophotovoltaic solar cell.
Downdraft energy towers
It is a revolutionary way of generating green electricity. These towers harness solar and wind energy to produce power. Philip Carson was the first to invent downdraft-towers. The Technion Israel Institute of Technology has been working on it since 1975. The company claims it will produce plenty of green electricity at a reasonable price.
Heliostats
The reflective area of a heliostat is composed of several mirrors. This area can extend up to 150 meters in some cases. Heliostats are designed to maximize the reflection of solar energy while minimizing the weight. The heliostats must not affect the tower's two axis movement. The optical losses are greater the larger the heliostat's surface area. Larger surfaces also require more frequent maintenance and optimization.
Bird and insect death
California's solar power plant is causing major problems for birds and insects. The intense beams of sunlight inside the towers cause birds to ignite in mid-air and perish. This method has been used to kill thousands of insects and birds. According to the latest research, solar power plants account for between 37.800 and 138.600 avian death per year. These numbers are not surprising, considering the fact that solar power plant have significantly fewer deaths than windows and fossil fuel power plants.
Environmental impact
There are many ways that solar towers could impact the environment. One of the biggest problems is the water waste. The cooling equipment and cleaning equipment used in solar power plants are large. This can have a negative impact on local ecosystems, especially those located in arid areas.