In light of our world power failure, it seems that many companies see the potential of solar energy becomes a reference. With an inexhaustible supply of energy, has the greatest potential to give us an effective and environmentally safe electricity.

solar energy companies today are trying to address several limitations on the use of solar energy in the hope that by doing so, the extent of its use may be widened. One of the latest developments was the discovery of molten salt technology to address the concerns of storing enough solar energy for use during the night and for long periods without sun.

In short, the molten salt refers to salt, which is a liquid that would normally be in solid form at standard temperature and pressure. This product has been for some time and is used in other processes, such as the production of steel and aluminum. But, in fact, researchers have discovered more about the features that make it valuable and can be applied to solar technology.

These features include the ability of molten salts to very high temperatures (1000 degrees Fahrenheit), conduct electricity, and most importantly, the fact that it has good heat transfer properties.

Two large solar company in Italy and Spain have invested in this high-tech and built to the principle of concentrating solar power plants that use it. The scientific explanation behind this innovation is that, being the only high-temperature molten salts melt and turn the steam until it gets much hotter, you can save a lot of solar energy into heat. molten salts are also located close to the water through a heat exchanger. steam from hot water can do to turn the turbines without losing too much initially absorbed solar energy. This powerful storage facilities, combined heat and power generation using this technique to produce enough electricity for nearly eight hours under the sun has set.

Another highlight of this development is that the environment. The components of the salts used are sodium and potassium nitrate – the same elements in fertilizers. This means that even if the plant were to leak, will not adversely affect the environment or human life.

The only downside is the construction technology of molten salt. In order to maximize the production of heat and full of energy, a huge power plant is built. Spain is one of the 126 acres along. Except for the factory itself is an additional cost of storage tanks of molten salt. Total Andasol 1 center in Spain and Italy Archimede factory will cost about $ 380 million U.S. dollars each.

Despite the costs, the molten salt technology is a leap forward for scientists and solar power companies in order to provide solar energy to a wider population by offering a solution to the challenges associated .