Generation of electricity at cost low upto 20 % over conventional solar power generation system

I want to share this news on innovative new technology with all those interested in Renewable energy issues. This new technology to generation of electricity at cost low upto 20 % over conventional solar power generation system is developed by Alcoa Inc. having its corporate center on Pittsburgh's North Shore., in conjunction with the (NREL) National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. This concentrated solar power generation system is an aluminum-based system designed with specially coated aluminum mirrors. The efficiency and structural performance of this concentrated SPS (Solar Power System) are not yet announced as presently the system is undergoing "validation tests" at (NREL). As per Alcoa, the test results are expected to be available by this spring and it might take two to three years of testing before the system can be commercialized.
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY:-The concentrating solar power parabolic trough consists of two aluminum mirrors, 20 feet high and 46 feet long, that reflect and focus sunlight on an oil-based fluid inside a tube connected to the hot side of a power plant. The heated fluid — reaching temperatures ranging from 600 to 700 degrees — produces steam to turn a turbine.

Reference:- http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_672397.html

High returns from crops in draught and infertile land – Jatropha cultivation

Land is the base of farming industry where fertility of land, irrigation and sun light plays the role of tools in this industry. Farmers have lots of expenses for fertilizers as well as to solve the irrigation issues in the draught. In such conditions farmer look for subsidies from national programs and blessings on behalf of natural factors like rain.
The nonfeed stock crop ‘Jatropha’ has emerged as a sustainable solution for farmers. Jatropha is a draught resistant perennial that can age up to 50 years. It can grow in any type of soil whether sandy, gravelly or saline and thrives even on the stony soils and rocky crevices. Its seeds are toxic and therefore not suitable for feed and food, and is therefore widely accepted for biofuel cultivation. Its shrub takes 15 to 24 months to produce seeds and the plant gives seeds during 30 years. These seeds contain about 35 % of non-edible oil which can be converted into bio-diesel by the esterification process.
A variety of Jatropha tree ‘SDAUJ 1’ has 49.2 % oil and 47.8 % non-edible protein in its seeds. SDAUJ 1 has been developed in India and should give a higher oil yield and is therefore very suitable for commercial cultivation.
Normal Jatropha tree gives two harvests in one year, but hybrid verities of Jatropha are developed to give three harvests one year. The seed production of Jatropha rages from 2 tons per hectare per year to 12.5 ton per hectare per year after the shrub is over five years old. The tree of Jatropha grows up to a height of 3 meters and is well known for cultivation as live fence for agricultural fields to protect the crops in fields from damages by livestock as unpalatable to cattle and goats.
Jatropha is valued for its medicinal properties as a purgative and an antiseptic. Its oil is used in medicines for diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite, dropsy, paralysis, etc. The residue ‘press cake’ left after extraction of oil from seeds is rich content of proteins and carbohydrates which can be used as organic fertilizer. If detoxificated it is useful as animals feed where as another byproduct, bio-glycerol is used in the pharmaceutical industry and in making soap.

Special attention and precautions are needed during cultivation and utilization of Jatropha as it is highly toxic, It can cause death on consumption of just 4 of its seeds. And if the skin gets stainedby the milky sap from its bark, it may irritate for days.

Useful links regarding Jatropha cultivation
Jatropha
http://www.jatrophaworld.org/
The Complete Jatropha Curcas Planting Manual (PDF CD) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380215069295
Characteristic and Composition of Jatropha Curcas Oil Seed
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr_29_3_11.pdf
Providing Services of Jatropha Intercropping, Plantation & Cultivation,Tissue Culture Plant Technique includes Productive Plantation of Jatropha Curcas
http://www.jatrophabiodiesel.org/jatrophaPlantation.php
On line market for 50 jatropha curcas seeds, graines, semillas, semi
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120544203443

Adresses and links of Jatropha Seeds Manufacturers & Suppliers in India
http://www.indianindustry.com/seeds/5863.html
Jatropha Oil Extraction - Purification, Filtration
http://www.plantoils.in/portal/jatropha/jao/ext/ext.html
List of manufacturers and exporters of Jatropha plants in India
http://www.tradeindia.com/manufacturers/indianmanufacturers/jatropha-plants.html
Identification, selection and multiplication of high yielding Jatropha curcas L. plants and economic key points for viable Jatropha oil production costs
http://www.jatropha.de/Journal/Henning-paper.pdf