From Rooftops to Algae Pools: Orlando's Vision for Carbon-Free Energy

[steve2470]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/business/energy-environment/orlando-carbon-climate.html

ORLANDO, Fla. — This city has long been a leading tourist destination. Now, it is vying for another distinction: to be a pioneer in weaning itself from carbon-based energy.

You can see its aspirations in the thousands of ponds all over the city that collect the runoff from Central Florida’s frequent downpours. Floating solar panels rise and fall in the water, sending power to the grid.

There is also evidence along city streets, where solar panels sit atop streetlights to power them instead of using the electric grid. About 18,000 of the 25,000 in the city already have been converted to high-efficiency light-emitting diodes.

Even algae pools may play a role. That’s where officials are testing a system to trap the carbon that the city emits from power plants or transportation, rather than release it into the atmosphere.

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Interesting concept...at first I though article meant that the algae pools were ...

generating power in some fashion. And they are!

Wouldn't surprise me if they did somehow generate energy but curious as to how they do it...was blocked from the article by NYT.

Thanks for posting article. It's a good thing that things like this are being looked at. Very neat and interesting.

Thanks for posting!