SlideShare ist ein Scribd-Unternehmen logo
1 von 22
Nishant Chauhan
Smba 08294 , IMT
 As the world struggles to get more of its power
from renewable sources amid rising demand for
electricity, renewable energy projects are growing.
This is especially true in China, which has plans
for a solar thermal farm, a solar photovoltaic farm
and a wind farm that are five times to 30 times
bigger than the world's current largest. In the U.S.
and elsewhere in the world, building bigger plants
can be tricky. Though economies of scale help to
reduce the cost per watt of bigger projects, bigger
projects are riskier to finance. Here are today's
biggest projects, from highest capacity to lowest,
by type of generation.
 Three Gorges Dam, China
 Capacity: 18,000 MW
 Year completed: 2008
 This isn't just the biggest renewable energy project in
the world, it's the biggest electricity-generating project,
period. It has 32 main generators. More are being
added, and final capacity will be more than 20,000
MW. All that power comes at a cost: More than a
million people are said to have been displaced by its
construction.
 The Geysers, Northern California, U.S.
 Capacity: 1,000 MW
 First power produced: 1921
 "The Geysers" aren't actually geysers, but an
underground steam reservoir nestled in mountains 70
miles north of San Francisco. The steam powers 22
power plants at the site, 15 of which are owned by
Calpine. The Geysers' steam first started producing
power in 1921, but the field wasn't developed
commercially until the 1960s.
 Roscoe Wind Farm, West Texas, U.S.
 Capacity: 782 MW
 Year completed: 2009
 Roscoe, now run by the German utility E.On, overtook
another West Texas farm, the Horse Hollow Wind
Energy Center, last fall. It will soon be overtaken itself-
-if it hasn't been already. China is developing a wind
corridor in western Gansu province that is planned to
ultimately grow to a staggering 20,000 MW. By the end
of this year, it is scheduled to reach 5,000 MW.
 Solar Energy Generating Systems, Mojave Desert,
Calif., U.S.
 Capacity: 354 MW
 Year completed: 1990
 This system, known as SEGS, is a collection of nine
plants that redirect the sun's heat to tubes of synthetic
oil. The heat in the oil is transferred to water,
producing steam that turns a turbine. Bright Source
Energy is planning a bigger 440 MW solar thermal
project, also in the Mojave Desert. But these plants
seem quaint compared with a Chinese plan announced
this month to build a series of solar thermal plants in
the Mongolian desert designed by eSolar that could
reach 2,000 MW.
 Jakobstad Biomass Power Plant, Ostrobothnia, Finland
 Capacity: 240 MW
 Year completed: 2001
 Biomass plants are simple--they burn vegetation for
heat that is used to spin a turbine. What keeps them
small is simple, too: logistics. It's hard to gather and
transport the amount of biomass it would require to
power a plant the size of, for example, a coal plant.
 Rance Tidal Power Station
 Brittany, France
 Capacity: 240 MW
 Year completed: 1966
 Tide mills have been employed for centuries. A tide
coming or going turned a water wheel that powered a
mill. The Rance station produces power more like a
hydroelectric plant--the pressure of water flowing turns
cylindrical turbines. A newer approach calls for
submerging huge spinning blades that look a lot like wind
turbines, called axial turbines. But the next big tidal power
station will likely be South Korean, and work like the
Rance plant: A 254-MW project called the Shiwa Lake
Tidal Power Station is scheduled to be completed this
year.
 Horns Rev 2 Farm, Denmark
 Capacity: 209 MW
 Year completed: 2009
 This farm, owned by Denmark's Dong Energy, became
the largest offshore wind farm in the world when it
was completed in the blustery North Sea last fall. It's a
small part of Europe's much bigger hopes for offshore
wind. The European Wind Energy Association is
targeting 40,000 MW of offshore wind in Europe by
2020, up from 1,500 now.
 Rozenburg Waste-To-Energy Plant, Netherlands
 Capacity: 108 MW
 Year completed: 1972
 The simple way to turn trash into power is to burn it
and use the heat to turn a turbine, the same way you'd
burn coal or biomass. The problem with trash is that
it's, well, trash. The emissions from these can be nasty
and must be scrubbed hard to clean them. Other trash-
to-energy approaches include gasification that can
produce either electricity or ethanol
 Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park , Olmedilla, Spain
 60 MW
 2008
 A solar photovoltaic cell is a wonderfully elegant
device. Without any moving parts it simply transforms
the photons emitted from the sun into electrons that
can run our lives. The problem, however, is gathering
enough photons. The world's biggest field is just 60
MW. That's about to change. Several larger plants are
planned, both in the U.S. and abroad. The really big
plans, of course, are Chinese. The first phase of a
gargantuan project that is expected to create a 2,000-
MW field of First Solar thin film panels by 2019 gets
underway this summer
 Aguçadoura Wave Farm, Portugal
 2 MW
 First installed: 2008
 This was the first and only commercial wave energy
power plant, consisting of connected sections of tubes
that, when jostled by the waves, created hydraulic
pressure which was used to create electricity. That was
before the devices broke. Now they are awaiting
repairs that have been delayed because the plant's
owner, Babcock & Brown, is being liquidated. Pelamis,
which builds the devices, now has its sites on tastier
waves: It has teamed with Sweden's Vattenfall to build
a 20MW project off the Shetland Islands.
The Worlds Biggest Green Energy Projects

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Was ist angesagt?

Wind Presentation
Wind PresentationWind Presentation
Wind Presentation
5Elemento
 
1355813121 solar power in india
1355813121 solar power  in india1355813121 solar power  in india
1355813121 solar power in india
Randhir Kumar
 
Introductionto Solar
Introductionto SolarIntroductionto Solar
Introductionto Solar
sanjoysanyal
 

Was ist angesagt? (20)

Future of solar power
Future of solar powerFuture of solar power
Future of solar power
 
Solar energy
Solar energySolar energy
Solar energy
 
Application of Solar Energy
Application of Solar EnergyApplication of Solar Energy
Application of Solar Energy
 
Electricity clean energy
Electricity clean energyElectricity clean energy
Electricity clean energy
 
Energysources
EnergysourcesEnergysources
Energysources
 
Emargance of Solar Sky Farm
Emargance of Solar Sky FarmEmargance of Solar Sky Farm
Emargance of Solar Sky Farm
 
Solar energy : The Ultimate Renewable Resource
Solar energy : The Ultimate Renewable ResourceSolar energy : The Ultimate Renewable Resource
Solar energy : The Ultimate Renewable Resource
 
Renewable Energy and conventional power integration
Renewable Energy and conventional power integrationRenewable Energy and conventional power integration
Renewable Energy and conventional power integration
 
Energy Production For Finance (1)
Energy Production For Finance (1)Energy Production For Finance (1)
Energy Production For Finance (1)
 
Solar energy ppt
Solar energy pptSolar energy ppt
Solar energy ppt
 
Wind Presentation
Wind PresentationWind Presentation
Wind Presentation
 
1355813121 solar power in india
1355813121 solar power  in india1355813121 solar power  in india
1355813121 solar power in india
 
Solartoenergypresentation geofreyyator-140224025127-phpapp02
Solartoenergypresentation geofreyyator-140224025127-phpapp02Solartoenergypresentation geofreyyator-140224025127-phpapp02
Solartoenergypresentation geofreyyator-140224025127-phpapp02
 
solar energy
solar energysolar energy
solar energy
 
Introductionto Solar
Introductionto SolarIntroductionto Solar
Introductionto Solar
 
Solar tower
Solar towerSolar tower
Solar tower
 
Solar Energy in India
Solar Energy in IndiaSolar Energy in India
Solar Energy in India
 
Solar & smart energy
Solar & smart energySolar & smart energy
Solar & smart energy
 
Solar energy
Solar energySolar energy
Solar energy
 
Solar Power Feasibility in Pakistan
Solar Power Feasibility in PakistanSolar Power Feasibility in Pakistan
Solar Power Feasibility in Pakistan
 

Ähnlich wie The Worlds Biggest Green Energy Projects

Meier_REET_425_Final_Project
Meier_REET_425_Final_ProjectMeier_REET_425_Final_Project
Meier_REET_425_Final_Project
jmeier72
 
Electricity Generation
Electricity GenerationElectricity Generation
Electricity Generation
guestf9c414
 
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdfWind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
kareemangels
 
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep) in the world (www.power-technology)
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep)  in the world   (www.power-technology)The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep)  in the world   (www.power-technology)
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep) in the world (www.power-technology)
skthen72
 
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energyChapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
Start Loving
 
solar energy--the ultimate renewable resource
  solar energy--the ultimate  renewable resource  solar energy--the ultimate  renewable resource
solar energy--the ultimate renewable resource
Ghassan Hadi
 
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal PowerSolar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
Toni Menninger
 

Ähnlich wie The Worlds Biggest Green Energy Projects (20)

Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric Power
 
How stuff works
How stuff worksHow stuff works
How stuff works
 
Alternative energy
Alternative energyAlternative energy
Alternative energy
 
Solar energy presentation
Solar energy presentationSolar energy presentation
Solar energy presentation
 
Meier_REET_425_Final_Project
Meier_REET_425_Final_ProjectMeier_REET_425_Final_Project
Meier_REET_425_Final_Project
 
Solar Power
Solar PowerSolar Power
Solar Power
 
Electricity Generation
Electricity GenerationElectricity Generation
Electricity Generation
 
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdfWind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
Wind Turbine -  Wind power has been used as long as humans have p.pdf
 
sandocity
sandocitysandocity
sandocity
 
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep) in the world (www.power-technology)
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep)  in the world   (www.power-technology)The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep)  in the world   (www.power-technology)
The 10 biggest hydroelectric pp (hep) in the world (www.power-technology)
 
How is Solar Energy Produced and Used?
How is Solar Energy Produced and Used?How is Solar Energy Produced and Used?
How is Solar Energy Produced and Used?
 
Solar Energy - A Brief History in the United States
Solar Energy - A Brief History in the United StatesSolar Energy - A Brief History in the United States
Solar Energy - A Brief History in the United States
 
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energyChapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
Chapter 12 sprinting toward renewable energy
 
solar energy--the ultimate renewable resource
  solar energy--the ultimate  renewable resource  solar energy--the ultimate  renewable resource
solar energy--the ultimate renewable resource
 
Solar energy
Solar energySolar energy
Solar energy
 
Hydro electricity
Hydro electricityHydro electricity
Hydro electricity
 
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal PowerSolar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
Solar Power: Solar Heating, Photovoltaics, and Solar Thermal Power
 
Intbusiness
IntbusinessIntbusiness
Intbusiness
 
20BCL513_20BCL514.ppt
20BCL513_20BCL514.ppt20BCL513_20BCL514.ppt
20BCL513_20BCL514.ppt
 
Hydroelectric Power Plant (and Pumped Storage Power Plant)
Hydroelectric Power Plant (and Pumped Storage Power Plant)Hydroelectric Power Plant (and Pumped Storage Power Plant)
Hydroelectric Power Plant (and Pumped Storage Power Plant)
 

Mehr von Nishant Chauhan

Six wheeler & More ......
Six wheeler & More ......Six wheeler & More ......
Six wheeler & More ......
Nishant Chauhan
 
Top 10 most expensive trucks
Top 10 most expensive trucksTop 10 most expensive trucks
Top 10 most expensive trucks
Nishant Chauhan
 
2012 most luxiurious watches
2012 most luxiurious watches2012 most luxiurious watches
2012 most luxiurious watches
Nishant Chauhan
 
Most expensive celebrity homes
Most expensive celebrity homesMost expensive celebrity homes
Most expensive celebrity homes
Nishant Chauhan
 
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 201110 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
Nishant Chauhan
 
Worlds most expensive homes
Worlds most expensive homesWorlds most expensive homes
Worlds most expensive homes
Nishant Chauhan
 
World’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
World’s most expensive bottles of alcoholWorld’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
World’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
Nishant Chauhan
 
World’s largest and most expensive yachts
World’s largest and most expensive yachtsWorld’s largest and most expensive yachts
World’s largest and most expensive yachts
Nishant Chauhan
 
Costliest watches in the world
Costliest watches in the worldCostliest watches in the world
Costliest watches in the world
Nishant Chauhan
 
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airportsWorld’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
Nishant Chauhan
 

Mehr von Nishant Chauhan (20)

Different Trucks ....
Different Trucks ....  Different Trucks ....
Different Trucks ....
 
Six wheeler & More ......
Six wheeler & More ......Six wheeler & More ......
Six wheeler & More ......
 
Top 10 most expensive trucks
Top 10 most expensive trucksTop 10 most expensive trucks
Top 10 most expensive trucks
 
2012 most luxiurious watches
2012 most luxiurious watches2012 most luxiurious watches
2012 most luxiurious watches
 
Most expensive celebrity homes
Most expensive celebrity homesMost expensive celebrity homes
Most expensive celebrity homes
 
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 201110 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
10 most expensive hollywood celebrities cars 2011
 
10 most expensive su vs
10 most expensive su vs10 most expensive su vs
10 most expensive su vs
 
Worlds most expensive homes
Worlds most expensive homesWorlds most expensive homes
Worlds most expensive homes
 
World’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
World’s most expensive bottles of alcoholWorld’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
World’s most expensive bottles of alcohol
 
World’s largest and most expensive yachts
World’s largest and most expensive yachtsWorld’s largest and most expensive yachts
World’s largest and most expensive yachts
 
Costliest watches in the world
Costliest watches in the worldCostliest watches in the world
Costliest watches in the world
 
Costliest mobiles
Costliest mobilesCostliest mobiles
Costliest mobiles
 
Costliest bikes
Costliest bikesCostliest bikes
Costliest bikes
 
Costliest bicycles
Costliest bicyclesCostliest bicycles
Costliest bicycles
 
World's fastest cars
World's fastest carsWorld's fastest cars
World's fastest cars
 
Type of motorcycles
Type of motorcyclesType of motorcycles
Type of motorcycles
 
Helicopters
HelicoptersHelicopters
Helicopters
 
Future gadgets
Future gadgetsFuture gadgets
Future gadgets
 
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airportsWorld’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
World’s most dangerous and breathtaking airports
 
Rainbow
RainbowRainbow
Rainbow
 

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please PractiseSpellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
AnaAcapella
 
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
QucHHunhnh
 
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functionsSalient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
KarakKing
 
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy  Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdfVishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy  Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
ssuserdda66b
 

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Towards a code of practice for AI in AT.pptx
Towards a code of practice for AI in AT.pptxTowards a code of practice for AI in AT.pptx
Towards a code of practice for AI in AT.pptx
 
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptxUnit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
Unit-V; Pricing (Pharma Marketing Management).pptx
 
Accessible Digital Futures project (20/03/2024)
Accessible Digital Futures project (20/03/2024)Accessible Digital Futures project (20/03/2024)
Accessible Digital Futures project (20/03/2024)
 
Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please PractiseSpellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
Spellings Wk 3 English CAPS CARES Please Practise
 
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The BasicsIntroduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting: The Basics
 
FSB Advising Checklist - Orientation 2024
FSB Advising Checklist - Orientation 2024FSB Advising Checklist - Orientation 2024
FSB Advising Checklist - Orientation 2024
 
UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdfUGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
 
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf1029 -  Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
1029 - Danh muc Sach Giao Khoa 10 . pdf
 
Dyslexia AI Workshop for Slideshare.pptx
Dyslexia AI Workshop for Slideshare.pptxDyslexia AI Workshop for Slideshare.pptx
Dyslexia AI Workshop for Slideshare.pptx
 
Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds  in the ClassroomFostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds  in the Classroom
Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
 
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
TỔNG ÔN TẬP THI VÀO LỚP 10 MÔN TIẾNG ANH NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024 CÓ ĐÁP ÁN (NGỮ Â...
 
SOC 101 Demonstration of Learning Presentation
SOC 101 Demonstration of Learning PresentationSOC 101 Demonstration of Learning Presentation
SOC 101 Demonstration of Learning Presentation
 
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functionsSalient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
Salient Features of India constitution especially power and functions
 
This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.
This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.
This PowerPoint helps students to consider the concept of infinity.
 
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
ICT role in 21st century education and it's challenges.
 
How to Create and Manage Wizard in Odoo 17
How to Create and Manage Wizard in Odoo 17How to Create and Manage Wizard in Odoo 17
How to Create and Manage Wizard in Odoo 17
 
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy  Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdfVishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy  Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
Vishram Singh - Textbook of Anatomy Upper Limb and Thorax.. Volume 1 (1).pdf
 
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual  Proper...
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
 
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptxUnit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
 
Mehran University Newsletter Vol-X, Issue-I, 2024
Mehran University Newsletter Vol-X, Issue-I, 2024Mehran University Newsletter Vol-X, Issue-I, 2024
Mehran University Newsletter Vol-X, Issue-I, 2024
 

The Worlds Biggest Green Energy Projects

  • 2.  As the world struggles to get more of its power from renewable sources amid rising demand for electricity, renewable energy projects are growing. This is especially true in China, which has plans for a solar thermal farm, a solar photovoltaic farm and a wind farm that are five times to 30 times bigger than the world's current largest. In the U.S. and elsewhere in the world, building bigger plants can be tricky. Though economies of scale help to reduce the cost per watt of bigger projects, bigger projects are riskier to finance. Here are today's biggest projects, from highest capacity to lowest, by type of generation.
  • 3.  Three Gorges Dam, China  Capacity: 18,000 MW  Year completed: 2008  This isn't just the biggest renewable energy project in the world, it's the biggest electricity-generating project, period. It has 32 main generators. More are being added, and final capacity will be more than 20,000 MW. All that power comes at a cost: More than a million people are said to have been displaced by its construction.
  • 4.
  • 5.  The Geysers, Northern California, U.S.  Capacity: 1,000 MW  First power produced: 1921  "The Geysers" aren't actually geysers, but an underground steam reservoir nestled in mountains 70 miles north of San Francisco. The steam powers 22 power plants at the site, 15 of which are owned by Calpine. The Geysers' steam first started producing power in 1921, but the field wasn't developed commercially until the 1960s.
  • 6.
  • 7.  Roscoe Wind Farm, West Texas, U.S.  Capacity: 782 MW  Year completed: 2009  Roscoe, now run by the German utility E.On, overtook another West Texas farm, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, last fall. It will soon be overtaken itself- -if it hasn't been already. China is developing a wind corridor in western Gansu province that is planned to ultimately grow to a staggering 20,000 MW. By the end of this year, it is scheduled to reach 5,000 MW.
  • 8.
  • 9.  Solar Energy Generating Systems, Mojave Desert, Calif., U.S.  Capacity: 354 MW  Year completed: 1990  This system, known as SEGS, is a collection of nine plants that redirect the sun's heat to tubes of synthetic oil. The heat in the oil is transferred to water, producing steam that turns a turbine. Bright Source Energy is planning a bigger 440 MW solar thermal project, also in the Mojave Desert. But these plants seem quaint compared with a Chinese plan announced this month to build a series of solar thermal plants in the Mongolian desert designed by eSolar that could reach 2,000 MW.
  • 10.
  • 11.  Jakobstad Biomass Power Plant, Ostrobothnia, Finland  Capacity: 240 MW  Year completed: 2001  Biomass plants are simple--they burn vegetation for heat that is used to spin a turbine. What keeps them small is simple, too: logistics. It's hard to gather and transport the amount of biomass it would require to power a plant the size of, for example, a coal plant.
  • 12.
  • 13.  Rance Tidal Power Station  Brittany, France  Capacity: 240 MW  Year completed: 1966  Tide mills have been employed for centuries. A tide coming or going turned a water wheel that powered a mill. The Rance station produces power more like a hydroelectric plant--the pressure of water flowing turns cylindrical turbines. A newer approach calls for submerging huge spinning blades that look a lot like wind turbines, called axial turbines. But the next big tidal power station will likely be South Korean, and work like the Rance plant: A 254-MW project called the Shiwa Lake Tidal Power Station is scheduled to be completed this year.
  • 14.
  • 15.  Horns Rev 2 Farm, Denmark  Capacity: 209 MW  Year completed: 2009  This farm, owned by Denmark's Dong Energy, became the largest offshore wind farm in the world when it was completed in the blustery North Sea last fall. It's a small part of Europe's much bigger hopes for offshore wind. The European Wind Energy Association is targeting 40,000 MW of offshore wind in Europe by 2020, up from 1,500 now.
  • 16.
  • 17.  Rozenburg Waste-To-Energy Plant, Netherlands  Capacity: 108 MW  Year completed: 1972  The simple way to turn trash into power is to burn it and use the heat to turn a turbine, the same way you'd burn coal or biomass. The problem with trash is that it's, well, trash. The emissions from these can be nasty and must be scrubbed hard to clean them. Other trash- to-energy approaches include gasification that can produce either electricity or ethanol
  • 18.
  • 19.  Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park , Olmedilla, Spain  60 MW  2008  A solar photovoltaic cell is a wonderfully elegant device. Without any moving parts it simply transforms the photons emitted from the sun into electrons that can run our lives. The problem, however, is gathering enough photons. The world's biggest field is just 60 MW. That's about to change. Several larger plants are planned, both in the U.S. and abroad. The really big plans, of course, are Chinese. The first phase of a gargantuan project that is expected to create a 2,000- MW field of First Solar thin film panels by 2019 gets underway this summer
  • 20.
  • 21.  Aguçadoura Wave Farm, Portugal  2 MW  First installed: 2008  This was the first and only commercial wave energy power plant, consisting of connected sections of tubes that, when jostled by the waves, created hydraulic pressure which was used to create electricity. That was before the devices broke. Now they are awaiting repairs that have been delayed because the plant's owner, Babcock & Brown, is being liquidated. Pelamis, which builds the devices, now has its sites on tastier waves: It has teamed with Sweden's Vattenfall to build a 20MW project off the Shetland Islands.