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Molten Salt Key to New Solar Power Project

Aerospace supplier teams with clean-fuel company on new plants

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2008 8:15 PM CST

(Newser) – A unit of United Technologies will join with clean-fuel firm US Renewables to store solar power in molten salt—enabling the sun’s rays to provide electricity even at night. Hamilton Sundstrand, best known as an aerospace-components supplier, says rising fossil-fuel prices have made a plan first hatched in the 1980s financially viable—it expects $1 billion in sales over 15 years.

A new entity called SolarReserve will market and operate the power plants, the Wall Street Journal reports. The plants will run continuously at 50 megawatts, enough power to supply 50,000 American households; they could generate 500 megawatts at peak power. Salt heated to 1,050 degrees Fahrenheit loses only 1% of its heat in a day, making long-term energy storage possible.

George David, chairman & CEO of United Technologies Corp. addresses  the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in New York, Tuesday, May 15, 2007. City leaders from around the globe gathered Tuesday for an environmental summit hosted by former President Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a message that...
George David, chairman & CEO of United Technologies Corp. addresses the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in New York, Tuesday, May 15, 2007. City leaders from around the globe gathered Tuesday for an...   (Associated Press)
Solar Two, one of the world's most advanced solar power plants, is operated by Southern California Edison Co. in the Majave Desert, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
Solar Two, one of the world's most advanced solar power plants, is operated by Southern California Edison Co. in the Majave Desert, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.   (KRT Photos)
Hamilton Sundstrand plans to team with US Renewables Group to commercialize a new type of solar-power plant that will use molten salt to store the sun's heat so it can be converted to electrical power even when the sun isn't shining.
Hamilton Sundstrand plans to team with US Renewables Group to commercialize a new type of solar-power plant that will use molten salt to store the sun's heat so it can be converted to electrical power...   (Shutterstock.com)
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