Living Green Tip ~ Harvesting the Sun April 17, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Nature, Sustainable Living.trackback
FPL’s Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center is now up and running — and making global history in the process:
For the first time, large-scale solar generation is working in tandem with a natural gas power plant. Harnessing free fuel from the sun’s rays, this cutting-edge technology enables us to “take our foot off the gas” when the sun is shining, preventing the consumption of more than 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 600,000 barrels of oil over its working life.
To see how it works: FP&L Martin County Solar Energy Center
Project Facts:
* Construction began in December 2008 and was completed 2010.
* It’s the first hybrid solar facility in the world to connect to an existing combined-cycle power plant.
* At 75 megawatts, the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center is the largest solar thermal plant outside of California.
* Annual estimated generation will be about 155,000 megawatt-hours or enough power to serve about 11,000 homes.
* Located at FPL’s Martin Plant near Indiantown, Fla.
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Related posts: Action Alerts * Go Solar! * Repower America * Fly the GREENER Skies * A Greener America * Green The World . . . One Bag At A Time * Lighten Up Your Life * No Impact Man
Spirit Lights The Way 
I always love hearing/reading about these projects. It distresses me that they seem to be so few and far between. It seems the obvious way to go, but I sometimes think that people have this “fossil fuel mindset” and they can’t get their heads out of their collective asses long enough to really see the light!
Now that major power suppliers and car manufacturers are getting “on board” . . . change will come.
Will it be soon enough? Perhaps.
[…] April 17, 2011 in thoughts | Tags: Energy, Florida Power & Light, Fossil fuel power station, Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center, Natural gas, Renewable, Solar, Solar power Just saw this blog and it was so exciting I had to share it again! It’s about time we hear about someone using solar power and green energy to help us out! So exciting! FPLs Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center is now up and running — and making global history in the process: For the first time, large-scale solar generation is working in tandem with a natural gas power plant. Harnessing free fuel from the suns rays, this cutting-edge technology enables us to “take our foot off the gas” when the sun is shining, preventing the consumption of more than 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 600,000 barrel … Read More […]
Thanks for sharing the good news, EstherLou.
I love that we get our power from FP&L since it appears to be a forward thinking company.
This is cool, and a smart way to do things. You might find this fascinating: http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/intelligent-energy/an-artificial-leaf-for-solar-power-storage/5394/
That’s awesome, Connor.
I was imagining having an artificial tree in my yard with 1000’s of these artificial leaves on it ~ more attractive than solar panels, right?
Then I read that the leaf is supposed to float in a bucket of water. 😉
We really can do it!
I think we can. I think we can. I think we can. Choo-Choo!
Not happening in SA 😦
I’m just glad that it’s starting to happen. If FP&L succeeds, other power companies will follow suit, here and in S.A.
It’s one thing for individual homeowner’s to install solar panels to get off “the grid,” but real momentum requires that “the grid” starts to harvest solar for everyone.
I love hearing about new energy sources. We have to get our act together before it’s too late.
Agreed! We need more GREEN, less GREED. 😎