The Israeli Government’s project to generate sufficient solar power for 120,000 homes is nearing completion in the Negev Desert. It chose the site because it is the sunniest part of a country that averages 300 days of sunshine a year. Therefore, it is a key element in the nation’s goal to reach 10% of electricity production from renewable sources by 2020. The 50,000 mirrors pointing to a tower reaching for the sun will cover an area of 665 football fields.
More Astounding Numbers for the Tower Reaching For the Sun
The Ashalim Solar Thermal Power Station will have installed capacity of 120 megawatts. Moreover, the 50,000 computer-controlled heliostat mirrors will track the sun on two axes.
Then they will reflect the sunlight onto a boiler atop the 250-meter-high tower reaching for the sun. From there, the steam will drive powerful turbines feeding power into storage batteries linked to the national grid.
The main partners for the project are General Electric (engineering, procurement, and construction) and BrightSource Limitless (solar technology). The Infrastructure & Energy Investment Fund is arranging financing; The Ashalim generator will avoid 110,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually after the 1,000 workers have completed their task.
Tandiran Batteries Will Bring the Project Together
Tandiran Batteries in the USA will provide the rechargable lithium power packs empowering the Ashalim Solar Thermal Power Station. During daytime when the sun is shining, the TLI Series cells will power the heliostat electric motors.
After the sun sets across the vast, silent Negev Desert the lithium storage batteries will release their power into the national grid.
EES Magazine believes the batteries will sustain 25 years of day and night continuous operation.
Israel has sourced 60% of its energy from 900 billion cubic meters of offshore gas since 2009. The country plans to have 17% of its energy needs from renewables by 2030. It also wants to decompose the national utility company into separate profit units. And encourage the proliferation of smaller, independent power producers to further break the monopoly.
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Preview Image: Ashalim Project in the Negev Desert