Solar Thermal/CSP Bravely Swims Upstream

Solar Thermal/CSP Bravely Swims Upstream

Though the Intersolar show in San Francisco last week was represented far more heavily by PV than solar thermal, there are indications that concentrated solar power (CSP) is enjoying a significant up-tick in public attention. In particular, CSP, rather quiet in the last decade, is expected to experience 46% CAGR in the coming 20 years.

As Heidi Hafes of CSP Today writes in Renewable Energy World, almost 11 gW is “under development.” The problem appears when we pull apart exactly what Ms. Hafes means by that. As she points out, this is a minefield full of delays and blind alleys — in many cases, created by the forces that oppose renewables. She writes: “Three out of four Americans support putting solar power plants on public lands. Yet while oil and gas companies have received more than 74,000 permits to operate on federal lands in the past two decades, utility-scale solar developers have received zero.”

The political supremacy of the fossil fuel industries, achieved in large part through the work of its 7000 lobbyists, has successfully extorted enough votes in Washington to make the migration to renewables very difficult indeed. And if you think they’re good at corruption inside the Beltway and in our state capitals, they’re even better at covering their tracks with public relations. Unfortunately, most people will never even notice the outrageous doubletalk of the oil companies’ vigorously repositioning themselves as “energy” companies – to be perceived as “part of the solution” — to use Chevron’s obscene language. Most people will find it perfectly credible that BP wants to take us “Beyond Petroleum.” And they’ll fall in love with Shell’s extensive new ad campaign, launched directly into the teeth of public outrage of the entire oil sector.

As EnvironmentalLeader.com reports:

The campaign, which Shell is calling “Let’s Go,” repositions Shell as an energy, rather than oil, company, with one television spot implying Shell is investing more money on cleaner-burning natural gas than any other oil company. The campaign will be rolled out across TV, print, and online mediums, and also features two new websites: shell.us/letsgo and energygalaxy.com.

That’s simply nauseating.

It’s hard to encounter this and not be reminded of the famous words of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”  Of course, Goebbels didn’t exactly meet a happy end; he remained loyal to Hitler until the end, and, in April 1945, he killed his family and himself while Berlin was falling to Soviet troops.  Maybe there’s some sort of lesson to be learned there.

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3 comments on “Solar Thermal/CSP Bravely Swims Upstream
  1. Gaurav Ghai says:

    Hello Craig,

    I am from India and fully support your views. Today, not just the US but the whole world including India is in need of green energy. Oil companies are the kings with the government in full support. I am 22 and feel that now something really needs to be done, its like now or never. Parliament faces chaos every morning with no solution at hand for the fuel price-rise. I am a chemical engineer and have just started working. This scenario is really scary!!!
    Craig, eventhough I am not a big-earner, I do feel that a step needs to be taken. I really need your opinion and suggestions on this topic and the way to proceed.
    Witnessing the price-rise and the limited resources, it is killing people, quite literally!!
    I have been a regular reader of your posts and hope you can help!!

    Looking forward…
    Thanks

    Gaurav Ghai
    Chandigarh, India

  2. Shabbir Ahmed says:

    I am keen to know more about the implementation of viable Solar Energy in a third world country like Bangladesh. I have submitted a project to the World bank (IDCOL) for financing. The project is based on solar panel manufacturing plant to be installed in Bangladesh and mitigate acute power shortage.

    Currently, Bangladesh needs no less than 5000MW power a year. But yield is close to 50%. Hence, from its marketing point of view probably it is the right place to invest and make quick return of the investment.

    In fact, GOB is coming forward for the foreign investors to help the country in Renewable Energy sector.

    It would be ideal if the technology can be put into perspective for a Third world country.

    Thanks,
    S.A .

    • Yes, that would be idea, to be sure. There are a great number of others who have written on this subject — most re: African nations. If you have an organized business plan, please send it along.

2 Pings/Trackbacks for "Solar Thermal/CSP Bravely Swims Upstream"
  1. […] with any sense of decency is sickened by the corruption in Washington, by the oil companies’ 7000 lobbyists extorting huge sums of cash and all manner of other support from our elected leaders.  Yet, even […]

  2. […] if you’re an oil company, it’s certainly the enemy of the present. Even the most aggressive repositioning of the oil companies as “energy companies” (BP as “beyond petroleum,” Chevron as “part of the solution” etc.) […]