Terry Blanton wrote:
I'm not sure this is a good idea. Many solar power systems consume a huge amount of cooling water which draws down the water table.
Are you sure about that? I have read just the opposite, that solar thermal takes much less water than conventional gas or coal. PV takes no water, obviously.
I found one on-line resource that says the cooling towers at solar thermal sites use a lot of water. I doubt they use more than coal, but I guess they do not build coal plants in the desert.
This seems like a problem that can be fixed. Several years ago, a power-plant engineer told me that he thought plants use far too much cooling water, and the amounts can be reduced without compromising efficiency or safety. This would be good for all types of heat-engine based power plants.
- Jed
