Giant Solar Power Tower ‘Sauron’s Eye’, 245 Meters Tall and Located in the Desert of Israel, Is Revolutionizing the Market

‘Eye of Sauron’, a solar power tower installed in Ashalim, Israel, has generated controversies and myths. Discover this giant solar energy project and its amazing capacity.

Inaugurated in 2019, the solar power tower in Ashalim is one of the tallest structures in Israel with the capacity to produce clean energy for thousands of people in the middle of the desert. Named Eye of Sauron, this large enterprise earns its nickname inspired by the film “The Lord of the Rings,” due to its size, but mainly because of its intense brightness.

Solar Tower “Eye of Sauron” Can Be Seen from Space

The solar power tower is so bright that looking directly at it can cause vision damage. However, its nearly 245 meters in height make it an easy target, where it can be seen from anywhere in the city located in Israel and even from space.

The Ashalim solar complex is one of the largest in the world and is located in the midst of the vast Negev desert. The solar tower, of course, is the main attraction, but the thousands of solar panels surrounding it are also part of the scene. An article from The New York Times reveals this incredible project, which, despite being very beautiful, is the subject of various criticisms.

Despite being a source of clean and renewable energy, the costs of the Eye of Sauron, the delays, and the fact that many experts consider its technology outdated lead to many criticisms of this power generator.

Deactivated at night, the solar power tower generates energy to supply thousands of homes. The reflected sun heats the water and turns it into steam, causing clouds to be channeled to ground level, turning turbines that can generate renewable energy.

Residents Criticize the Proximity of the “Eye of Sauron” to the City in Israel

According to information from the company Megalim Solar Power, the solar power tower has also been the target of false rumors and suspicions, such as claims that the reflected light could cause cancer or that it would explode.

Fortunately, these are just rumors and myths, however, it has not prevented many from criticizing the proximity of the project to the city of Israel, disrupting the landscape. The main controversy is around the cost of energy generated by the solar power tower. The project cost thousands of dollars, financed by Megalim Solar Power, a multinational consortium that developed and manages the plant.

There are about 25 towers of this type in the world, however, only one located in the United Arab Emirates is even larger than the one in Ashalim. The project cost US$ 800 million, and in return, the government promised to buy electricity from the tower at a rate of approximately 23 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Thus, although the renewable energy produced on-site is clean, it is more expensive than other solar sources. Overall, despite the controversies, the Ashalim tower has become a source of pride for the local residents, who have seen their small village make the news and appear on the map.

Thermosolar Energy Gains Highlight

Heliogen, a U.S. company, developed a solar power system that, like the project in Israel, uses several mirrors called heliostats. The difference is that these mirrors, which reflect and store sunlight more efficiently, are rotational.

The system produces concentrated solar energy through these mirrors installed in flat areas with high luminosity. The system developed by the company can generate temperatures of up to 1,500º C, more than three times the heat generated in previous solutions. In the plant, a machine learning algorithm was used to position the mirrors accurately.