Mirrors to banish Austrian town's winter darkness
RATTENBERG, Austria — The sun has stopped shining in Rattenberg, Austria. But with the aid of a few mirrors, the winter darkness that grips this small town could soon be brightened up with pockets of sunshine.
That's because sun is plentiful less than 10 minutes' walk from the town and from Rat Mountain, the 3,000-foot hill that blocks its sunlight between November and February each year.
The solution: 30 heliostats, essentially rotating mirrors, mounted on a hillside to grab sunshine off reflectors from the neighboring village of Kramsach.
Interesting technology and concept.
Out of curiosity, I wonder if they or other places were to use it (mirrors) and say they put Solar Panels on their homes , would there be enough light from mirrors to be able to use them (solar panels)?
RATTENBERG, Austria — The sun has stopped shining in Rattenberg, Austria. But with the aid of a few mirrors, the winter darkness that grips this small town could soon be brightened up with pockets of sunshine.
That's because sun is plentiful less than 10 minutes' walk from the town and from Rat Mountain, the 3,000-foot hill that blocks its sunlight between November and February each year.
The solution: 30 heliostats, essentially rotating mirrors, mounted on a hillside to grab sunshine off reflectors from the neighboring village of Kramsach.
Interesting technology and concept.
Out of curiosity, I wonder if they or other places were to use it (mirrors) and say they put Solar Panels on their homes , would there be enough light from mirrors to be able to use them (solar panels)?