Internet Giant’s Technology May Slash Costs of Solar Thermal Facilities-

Google, Inc. has recently reported its newest breakthrough with innovative mirror technology that may well slash the costs of building a solar thermal plant in half. The company’s Green Energy Czar, Bill Weihl, confirms that the development could be ready in one to three years if all goes well. He states, “Things have progressed. We have an internal prototype.” Solar thermal energy utilizes radiation from the sun to heat matter by means of concentrated mirrors which, in turn, generate steam to run a turbine. Google has been exploring diverse materials for the archetype’s reflective shell, as well as the substance on which the mirror is fixed. The internet giant has been performing long-term research on renewable energy applications, as well as investing in companies like eSolar & BrightSource, with its chief goal to offer reasonably priced clean energy. Google’s aim is to reduce the associated costs of manufacturing heliostats, the array of mirrors which track the sun throughout the day. “There is a decent chance that in a small number of years, we could have a 2-X reduction in cost,” Weihl said. As of now, the model is not at the point to facilitate external testing, but Weihl confirms that both eSolar and BrightSource are interested in the technology. “If it works, it would absolutely be something they would use,” he said. Video below, courtesy of TheTakeAway.org, features Bill Weihl discussing the promising prospects of solar thermal energy.