Source: DLR
The radiation that arrives at the surface of the earth from the surface would cover our energy needs by large. The challenge is to find simple and cost efficient constructions to harvest and to use this energy.
Today this potential is only used marginally: In Europe, solar energy only contributes 0.5 percent of the electricity production. (1)
But the expansion of the renewable energies’ sector is making rapid progress and in numerous countries, there are big commitments to push the use of renewable energies further.
The DESERTEC initiative supports the vision of promoting a energy infrastructure based entirely on renewable energy.
The expansion of the use of renewable energies brings competition: those technologies will win and prevail that provide energy at lowest costs.
All form of renewable energies will contribute to the future energy mix: water, wind, biomass and solar, as each of them has specific advantages. In solar energy, one distinguishes between non-concentrating applications (like photovoltaics, the conventional solar cell) and concentrating applications.
Today there are generally four categories to use the solar energy in a concentrated form:
1. Parabolic troughs
2. Linear Fresnel mirrors
3. Heliostats with a central tower receiver
4. Dish designs
For more information visit solarpaces.org
We are convinced that the HELIOtube with its advantages will play a significant role in the future use of solar energy.
As the HELIOtube like all other concentrating systems, needs direct sun light, it is suitable for countries with much direct solar radiation, like southern Spain or Italy, northern Africa, South Africa, Middle East or the American desert zones.
(1) Source: ENTSO-E, yearly electricity production in 2009, data base 24.1.2011.