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Solar Thermal Aerogel Receiver (STAR) Project

In contrast to photovoltaic systems, where sunlight is directly converted to electricity, solar thermal systems first convert sunlight to heat and subsequently to electricity through a heat engine, e.g. a steam turbine. The main advantage in such solar thermal systems is that the intermediate heat produced can be stored more easily and at a significantly lower cost than electricity.

The MIT Bates Lab located in Middleton Massachusetts has recently completed the installation a 10 KW Wind Turbine. The wind turbine is operating and converting the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy by rotating shaft of the generator and producing electrical energy.   In general, wind energy is most widely available, abundant and increasingly cost-competitive energy resource, making it a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels that potentially could harm our health and threaten the environment.