LETTER AS SUBMITTED TO TIME MAGAZINE

Dear Editor,

In discussions of future sources of energy, it should not be forgotten that enormous quantities of energy fall as sunlight on the world's hot deserts and that 'concentrating solar power' is a proven technology for tapping in to this vast energy flow (see, for example, www.eere.energy.gov/solar/csp.html).

In one of the simplest of several variations, an array of mirrors focuses sunlight on to a tank filled with water mounted on a low tower. This raises steam that can be used to generate electricity in the normal way. Solar power plants like these can be installed in large numbers as 'farms' in hot deserts and other sunny areas.

There are several options for bringing this kind of solar power to where it is needed. Perhaps the most interesting possibility is transporting (or storing) solar energy in the form of finely powdered iron, aluminium or boron (see www.mng.org.uk/green_house/renewable_energy/csp.htm).

The potential of this technology is huge. There is absolutely no need to build new nuclear power stations.

Iran claims that it needs nuclear power but Europe and the USA are suspicious that the technology could support the building of nuclear weapons. However, Iran has a rich source of energy in the sunlight falling on its deserts. Europe and the USA could call the bluff of the Iranians by offering to build enough concentrating solar power plants in the Iranian desert to supply all of the country’s needs (perhaps with wind power to make up any shortfall during the Iranian winter). Even if the bluff were accepted, it would be an inexpensive way to reduce worries about the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Sincerely,

Gerry Wolff

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