Israel strives to build the world's tallest solar tower

Between the Negev desert in southern Israel, engineers are trying to build the world's tallest solar tower - where Israel places expectations on renewable energy.

According to the Israeli government and Megalim Group managing construction projects, Ashalim tower is expected to be 240m high after completion in late 2017, higher than Montparnasse tower in Paris (France) and Gherkin tower in the capital. London (UK).

The whole tower is "wrapped" in stainless steel, with the top of the tower like a giant lighthouse that can be seen from tens of kilometers away. From the base of the tower, energy panels cover an area of ​​300 hectares, can receive and reflect sunlight onto the top of the tower, to the location called "boiler" that looks like a giant light bulb.

Israel built a solar tower.(Source: timesofisrael.com)

Here, the temperature will reach 600 degrees Celsius, creating steam and being transmitted down to the base of the tower to produce electricity.

According to the director of Megalim Group, Eran Gartner, engineers have developed controllers via the tower system of the tower and use the latest technologies such as steam power, steam turbines and generators. General Electric. In addition, engineers also designed a heat storage site at times when there was no sunshine.

According to the head of the Israeli Clean Energy Association, Eitan Parnass, the thermostat is a "big boost" in solar tower technology, paving the way for large-scale use of this energy source. in Israel.

As expected, Ashalim tower will provide 121 megawatts of electricity, meeting 2% of Israel's electricity demand. The project is estimated to cost up to 500 million euros (about 570 million USD) funded by General Electric of the US, French company Alstom and Israeli private investment fund Noy.

Israel is currently trying to produce renewable energy with the goal of meeting 10% of its total energy consumption by 2020.