Odeillo solar furnace
Odeillo solar furnace is a research facility in Fort-Romeu-Odeillo-Via in the south of France. At 54 m (177 ft) tall and 48 m (157 ft) wide, it is the world’s largest solar furnace.
The furnace was built between 1962 and 1968, and became operational in 1970, used to study materials at very high temperatures.
The furnace consists of a large concave mirror measuring nearly 2,000 sq. m, which reflects sunlight onto a small focal point that reaches temperatures of more than 3,000ºC (5,430ºF). Opposite the mirror are hundreds of flat mirrors angled so that they reflect the sun’s rays onto the mirror.
It is used for several purposes, including melting steel, generating electricity via a steam turbine, making hydrogen fuels, testing re-entry materials for space vehicles, and performing high-temperature metallurgic experiments.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
AI tools for planning, design, construction and management
A long, continually expanding list, any more to add?
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.