Solaren Space Solar Excels in Environmental Comparison of Baseload Power Plants

MANHATTAN BEACH, June 13, 2016 – Solaren Corporation (“Solaren”) Space Solar Power plants excel in an environmental comparison of Baseload Power Plants.

According to US Energy Information Agency (EIA) data, baseload power plants generate more than 75% of both the U.S. and world’s electricity supply. Note – baseload power plants operate 24/7. Thermoelectric fossil-fuel power plants emit heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and both nuclear and fossil-fuel power plants generate vast quantities of heat that must be removed by large quantities of water. Electric power plants account for nearly half of water withdrawn every day in the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Solaren space solar power plants will generate zero carbon dioxide, and require no water for thermal cooling processes.

The environmental comparison reviews three major sources of environmental impact from baseload power plant operations. These include 1) carbon dioxide emissions per generated megawatt-hour, 2) the waste heat generated by the power conversion process or heat rate in British Thermal Units (Btu) per megawatt-hour, 3) the average water used for the power plant thermal cooling processes in gallons per megawatt-hour, and 4) the average water consumed / lost to the power plant thermal cooling processes.

Environmental Comparison Results for Baseload Power Plant Operations:

Carbon Dioxide Emissions – Fossil-fuel power plants generate approximately 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour. Space solar, Hydroelectric and Nuclear power plants generate 0 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour.

Waste Heat – According to the Department of Energy (DOE), all baseload power plants generate about 4,500,000 Btu to 7,500,000 Btu of waste heat per megawatt-hour. Solaren’s Space Solar Power plants will Generate only 8% to 13% of the waste heat generated by other baseload plants.

Water Usage – The average water used for the power plant thermal cooling processes in gallons per megawatt-hour (G/MWh) is 0 G/MWh for Space Solar, 2,000 G/MWh for Natural Gas, 15,000 G/MWh for Coal, and 17,000 G/MWh for Nuclear.

Water Consumed – The average water consumed / lost to evaporation for the power plant thermal cooling processes in gallons per megawatt-hour (G/MWh) is 0 G/MWh for Space Solar, 180 G/MWh for Natural Gas, 500 G/MWh for Coal, and 500 G/MWh for Nuclear.

In summary, Solaren Space Solar generates 0 pounds of carbon dioxide per MWh, has only 13% of the waste heat rate of other baseload plants, and uses and consumes no water for thermal cooling processes.

NOTES:
* Withdrawal is the amount of water a power plant takes in from a source such as a river, lake, or ocean for the purpose of cooling steam. Consumption is the amount of water lost through evaporation during the cooling process. Average water withdrawal or consumption is used. The actual values depend on the type of cooling: once-through, closed-cycle, or dry-air. Water withdrawal and consumption data were not available for hydroelectric power plants.

The heat content of electricity is a constant and equal to 3,412,000 Btu per MWh

Fossil-fuels, nuclear, and hydroelectric power plant environmental data is from the US Dept. of Energy (DOE)/ Energy Information Agency (EIA), and the U.S. Geological Survey sources.

Space solar environmental data provided by Solaren and previously reviewed by the California Public Utility Commission, Department of Ratepayers Advocate, and California Energy Commission (CEC).

Abbreviations: Megawatt-hours (MWh), pounds (lbs.), British Thermal Unit (Btu), Gallons (ga)

About Solaren

Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, Solaren is an energy and aerospace company that is principally engaged in the research, design, development, integration and operations of space solar power plants, and the sale of clean baseload space solar electricity.

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