Google's Green Energy Czar on Solar Thermal Energy

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. They can be coupled with wind energy too quite well, especially the pumping applications. Rather than converting solar thermal energy to electricity to pump, I envision a direct pumping mechanism, for instance the use of a Stirling pump.

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3. Pumping and sanitizing of sewer and potable water for large municipal water treatment plants, especially for large urban, suburban, and exurban needs.

4. Pre-heating of shower water for large apartment complexes (preheat everyone's incoming water line.)

I've identified these especially because they are needs which serve the broader societal needs and where solar intermittency does not matter as much.

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The best uses of solar thermal energy are, in my opinion, those which displace high energy consumers for large infrastructure needs. Namely:

1. HVAC for large building spaces such as malls, warehouses, retail shopping centers, etcetera, using absorption chillers driven by solar thermal concentrators.

2. Pumping of irrigation water, especially in remote or rural farm and farm community areas.

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