This marked the first time that concentrating solar power (CSP) stations can provide environmentally-friendly power 24 hours a day, according to AORA’s CEO, Haim Fried.

AORA’s “Power Flower” station, named due to its unique yellow tulip design, consists of a field of 30 tracking mirrors (heliostats) situated on half an acre of land.

Each of the station’s 30 heliostats tracks the sun and reflects its rays towards the top of a 30 meter-high tower housing a special solar receiver along with a 100 kilowatt gas turbine.

The patented receiver uses the solar energy to heat air to a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius and directs this energy into the turbine, which converts the thermal energy into electric power that will be fed directly into the national grid.

Besides solar energy, the power station can also run on other alternative fuel, including bio-gas, bio-diesel and natural gas. So the station can produce electricity when sunlight is insufficient, such as at night or when it is cloudy.

source : SINA

The XR3 Hybrid is a super-fuel-efficient two-passenger plug-in hybrid that achieves 125 mpg on diesel power alone, 225 mpg on combined diesel and electric power, and performance like a conventional automobile. The design of the XR3 Hybrid focuses on existing technologies and a vehicle “personality” that makes conserving energy a fun driving experience.

The only problem with this scenario is that all these seeming benefits come with a heavy price. In ecological terms, these cars that have taken us places are taking us nowhere. In fact, they seem to be a big part of the problem. Air pollution, noise pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, global warming, fossil fuel consumption at an alarming rate, mountains of metal and plastic scraps and waste products, even the paving of perfectly good earth to make roads and parking lots; these can all be attributed in part or in full to our very own cars. The solution? Walking, bicycles, mass-transportation, car pooling, and solar powered cars.

For some time now we have been using solar energy to power our calculators and toys, and in a larger scale our homes and factories, as well as our communication and navigation systems. Add to this list the solar powered cars. Solar energy is plentiful in our world. The third planet from the sun is indeed fortunate in its distance from the yellow dwarf star. Aside from life-giving light and heat, the sun can now be harnessed to provide us with electricity and power. This can be done with the aid of solar cells. The same principle that is used for solar electric systems for the homes and factories are used here. Solar cells are placed in solar panels that are in turn placed in the roof of specially made cars. These solar panels capture light energy from the sun and then convert them into electricity. The electricity is then coursed through the car’s battery. Silicon cells act like semiconductors in a photovoltaic system in the solar powered car.

Number of concerned scientists, inventors, and engineers are busy working on solutions to the earth’s major problems. One of the things that have been worked on is the search for alternative sources of energy. The wind, sun, and water have been harnesses, as well as biomass. These sustainable energy sources have been used to power factories, homes, and solar powered cars.

Some of these solar powered cars are already being used, wheeling silently and efficiently down our streets. They run on batteries powered by the sun’s energy, not on gasoline taken from the earth’s dwindling supply of fossil fuels. Solar powered cars run silent and smooth without noise pollution and without air pollution. The next step for this technological and ecological breakthrough is to figure out a way to produce them cheaply and efficiently. Affordable solar powered cars are sure to make a positive impact on the betterment of our world for future generations. Now that is magical.