Heliogen Replacing Fuels with Sunshine

Plenty of days, temperatures in California's Mojave Desert climbs to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A measly figure.



These 400 silvered Glass Panels, tucked into the western edge of that hot desert are there to generate het 15 times that amount. And, ideally, to help Cool the Planet too.

Assembled by the Pasadena-based company Heliogen, each 16-square-foot freckle, a Heliostat, reflects a Kilowatt of Sunlight to the top of a Five-Story Tower, where it's Absorbed by a Silicon Carbide Receiver. As the little Black Plate glows White, it exceeds 1,800 Degrees. That's Hot enough to begin Manufacturing Cement and other Industrial products, Processing that typically rely on Burning Fossil Fuels, and to potentially Cut up to 10% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Heliogen CEO Bill Gross has dreamed of harnessing the Sun since 1973 Energy Crisis, when he sold DIY Solar Panels that put him through College. When Oil Prices plummeted, he invented Pay-per-Click Ads, before starting Heliogen in 2013, with Funding from Bill Gates. In the Fall of 2019 the Company fired up this First Array.

Similar Arrays have been used to make Electricity and tasty SunChips, and even Drill for Oil. But those Peal around 1,000 Degrees, because each Heliostat has to be individually Calibrated and can fall out of Alignment over time. With Heliogen, Cameras atop the Tower Scan the Sky, and Image Analysis Software computes the Optimal position for each Mirror, which can Rotate in Increments smaller then 1/160 of a Degree. Gross says such Efficiency can deliver Heat 20% more cheaply than fossil fuels can.

As Proof of Concept, Heliogen has mounted a Kiln atop the Tower to directly Heat Limest above 2,700 Degress. That kind one, a Key Step in making Cement. This year the Company plans to Link with Commercial Partners that have the ample Shadow-less Land required. Gross is also Building a Receiver that can handle Temperatures above 2,700 Degrees. That kind of hellfire can create Synthetic Hydrogen, which could Replace Oil-based Fuels.

Civilizations depends on cement and steel. Our roads, travel, everything. We've found a way to clean it up. Gross says.










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