IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...
Eduardo Zarza is having a great day. In fact, he’s having a great year. With a barely suppressed grin, PSA’s director of concentrating solar research describes how the center has gone from a research outpost, where he and other researchers toiled away on solar thermal power for 25 years, to an international superstar (at least in certain circles), with near daily visits from companies and scientists from around the world. Says Zarza, “Every week we have several companies coming to see the facilities to get information, because they’re interested in investing in solar thermal plants. The situation has changed dramatically in only two years.”
The center, surrounded by dusty rosecolored mountains dotted with green, lies in a particularly dry area, with only 20 percent of Andalusia’s average rainfall. Back in the 1970s, with Western countries feeling the pressure of restricted accessto oil, a consortium of nine countries— eight European nations and the United States—signed an agreement to investigate two solar technologies: one based on parabolic troughs, the other on a central receiver (like Solúcar’s tower receiver).
In 1985, the test results were in: both technologies were commercially feasible, but costs were too high. Since then, the center has continued testing and refining the technology, working with universities and countries around the world. Though there are other research centers with departments dedicated to concentrating solar power, PSA is the largest such research center in the world. The center is one of two Spanish research facilities that operate as part of what’s known as Ciemat (the other, near Madrid, focuses on wind and biomass). Sixty percent of the budget comes from the government, while the other 40 percent comes from grants and industry partnership. Lack of funds threatened the center’s operations several times, and it nearly closed.
A rapidly growing interest in renewables, government incentives to promote energy alternatives, and the rising cost of oil and gas placed PSA in the perfect position to take a leading role in the development of renewable energy technologies. After decades in the literal and figurative desert, Zarza finds himself at the center of a renaissance: the technology is finally, once again, entering the marketplace— and the center’s activities appear secure and are flourishing. “We’re very happy with the situation now,” says Zarza. “In the past, few people wanted to learn about our systems—now, everybody wants to."
Research has focused on technologies to increase the efficiency and decrease the cost of these concentrating solar systems. Reflectors and absorber pipes have been refined, and the coupling between the solar and conventional systems has been improved. The use of molten salt for heat storage was tested on-site before Sener went ahead with plans to install such a system in the new Andasol facility. Researchers also continue partnering with European companies to develop alternative and even more effective storage systems, which could greatly increase solar thermal’s viability in the marketplace.
Eduardo Zarza is having a great day. In fact, he’s having a great year. With a barely suppressed grin, PSA’s director of concentrating solar research describes how the center has gone from a research outpost, where he and other researchers toiled away on solar thermal power for 25 years, to an international superstar (at least in certain circles), with near daily visits from companies and scientists from around the world. Says Zarza, “Every week we have several companies coming to see the facilities to get information, because they’re interested in investing in solar thermal plants. The situation has changed dramatically in only two years.”The center, surrounded by dusty rosecolored mountains dotted with green, lies in a particularly dry area, with only 20 percent of Andalusia’s average rainfall. Back in the 1970s, with Western countries feeling the pressure of restricted accessto oil, a consortium of nine countries— eight European nations and the United States—signed an agreement to investigate two solar technologies: one based on parabolic troughs, the other on a central receiver (like Solúcar’s tower receiver).
In 1985, the test results were in: both technologies were commercially feasible, but costs were too high. Since then, the center has continued testing and refining the technology, working with universities and countries around the world. Though there are other research centers with departments dedicated to concentrating solar power, PSA is the largest such research center in the world. The center is one of two Spanish research facilities that operate as part of what’s known as Ciemat (the other, near Madrid, focuses on wind and biomass). Sixty percent of the budget comes from the government, while the other 40 percent comes from grants and industry partnership. Lack of funds threatened the center’s operations several times, and it nearly closed.
A rapidly growing interest in renewables, government incentives to promote energy alternatives, and the rising cost of oil and gas placed PSA in the perfect position to take a leading role in the development of renewable energy technologies. After decades in the literal and figurative desert, Zarza finds himself at the center of a renaissance: the technology is finally, once again, entering the marketplace— and the center’s activities appear secure and are flourishing. “We’re very happy with the situation now,” says Zarza. “In the past, few people wanted to learn about our systems—now, everybody wants to."
Research has focused on technologies to increase the efficiency and decrease the cost of these concentrating solar systems. Reflectors and absorber pipes have been refined, and the coupling between the solar and conventional systems has been improved. The use of molten salt for heat storage was tested on-site before Sener went ahead with plans to install such a system in the new Andasol facility. Researchers also continue partnering with European companies to develop alternative and even more effective storage systems, which could greatly increase solar thermal’s viability in the marketplace.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
Read these article :-
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
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» IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
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