The world's largest solar plate was recently displayed at an
international symposium on the topic, "Solar Electricity
Produced in Sdeh Boker." The plate was built at Ben Gurion
University in the Negev. Its circumference is 25 meters; its
length (when upright) is that of a six story building (13
meters). The plate is to be used to study the utilization of
solar energy. Professor David Feiman, senior physicist in Ben
Gurion University and the head of the Nationwide Center for
Solar Energy in Sdeh Boker, noted that this is a unique
project which will take two years to complete.
"Until now, solar energy was difficult to utilize from a
commercial point of view, due to the high costs of the
equipment," explained Professor Feiman. A research team at
Sdeh Boker College, headed by Professor Feiman, is studying
the possibilities of utilizing solar energy from a number of
different aspects. The use of new materials, such as the
building of sun cells from silicon instead of carbon as is
customary today, could significantly lower costs and raise
the efficiency of the cells.
The solar plate consolidates a vast amount of light power by
means of 100 square meters of parabolic mirrors, which
concentrate the rays in a small area of sun cells in the
plate's center. The research team estimates that a plate of
that size can provide the electricity needs of far off
enterprises and settlements. It will be possible to supply
the nationwide electricity network with pure and clean solar
energy instead of with electricity which is derived from
carbon fuels at power stations.
Professor Feiman relates that this plate -- the largest in
the world --- will also be used in astrophysics research,
mainly at night. Astrophysicists are excited about the
project because of its research potential. The plate can
serve as a telescope for the study of gamma rays.
