Mirrors are now more than a narcissist’s best friend. A California-based company, Ausra, is using them to generate energy. The system is an array of flat, rotating mirrors that are used to reflect sunlight to boil water in an elevated tube. The rotation is necessary because it allows for the maximum amount of sunlight to be captured. The boiled water produces steam that drives a turbine to generate electricity. Pacific Gas and Electric, one of California’s utility companies has agreed to purchase power from a plant that Ausra will complete in 2010. Outfitted with 1 square mile of solar collectors, Ausra’s planned plant in Southern California will produce enough emissions-free energy to power 120,000 homes.

http://www.ausra.com/technology/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=sunny-outlook-sunshine-provide-electricity