LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Solar Thermal Electricity

Two different renewable technologies harvest solar radiation in order to generate electrical energy. Solar thermal technology uses mirrors to concentrate the sun's heat. The heat is used to drive either a steam turbine or a gas piston. The moving turbine or piston has a magnet attached, which moves through a coil and generates an electric current. Solar thermal energy is a large-scale application, used by a power plant in place of nuclear or fossil fuels.

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