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In recent years, Dubai has been making great strides in its transition to clean energy sources. One of the most innovative projects to come out of this effort is the Molten Salt Power Plant. So, what is the Molten Salt Power Plant, and how does it work? Simply put, the Molten Salt Power Plant is a type of energy storage system that uses molten salt to store and release heat. The system consists of a large solar field, where mirrors reflect sunlight onto a central tower, heating up a mixture of molten salts in the process. The heat from the molten salts is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine to produce electricity. What sets the Molten Salt Power Plant apart from other energy storage systems is its ability to store heat for long periods of time, allowing it to provide power even when the sun isn't shining. The molten salts used in the system have a high heat capacity, meaning they can store a large amount of heat energy in a small volume. This makes them an ideal medium for energy storage, as they can be heated and cooled repeatedly without degrading or losing efficiency. The history of the Molten Salt Power Plant in Dubai dates back to 2016 when Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) launched the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project. The project aimed to build the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The Molten Salt Power Plant was initially planned as a 100 MW energy storage system to support the solar park, but in 2020, DEWA announced plans to expand the system's capacity to 600 MW. The Molten Salt Power Plant's ability to store and release heat at scale makes it a valuable asset for meeting peak demand, reducing carbon emissions, and improving the reliability and stability of the power grid. Additionally, the system's modular design makes it easy to scale up or down as needed, allowing it to adapt to changing energy demands and technological advances. 25th March 2023: Davie Chase's magnificent Jeep Wrangler JLU Rubicon Molten Salt Power Plant vs. Photovoltaic Solar Technology: While both the Molten Salt Power Plant and photovoltaic (PV) solar technology are forms of renewable energy, they differ significantly in terms of their operation and capabilities. PV solar technology generates electricity directly from sunlight by converting it into direct current (DC) electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells. These cells are typically made from silicon and are arranged in modules that are installed on rooftops, building facades, or large solar fields. PV solar technology is highly versatile and can be used in a range of applications, from powering individual homes to large-scale utility projects. The Molten Salt Power Plant, on the other hand, uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a central tower, heating up a mixture of molten salts that are used to generate electricity. The system is designed to store heat energy, making it capable of providing power even when the sun isn't shining. This makes it a valuable asset for meeting peak demand and improving grid stability, as well as reducing carbon emissions. One of the main advantages of PV solar technology is its scalability. It can be installed on a small or large scale, making it suitable for a wide range of energy needs. It also has a relatively low maintenance cost and can operate efficiently for many years. The Molten Salt Power Plant, while more complex in its design, has the advantage of being able to store energy for longer periods of time. This makes it a better option for meeting peak demand and providing a stable source of energy for the grid. 1st April 2023: Loopers Yellow Jeep The cost of PV solar technology and Molten Salt Power Plants can vary depending on a range of factors, such as location, size, and equipment costs. Generally speaking, the cost of PV solar technology has decreased significantly in recent years, making it one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy. The global weighted average cost of electricity generated by solar PV fell by 82% between 2010 and 2019, with the cost of utility-scale solar PV projects falling by 47% in the same period. In contrast, Molten Salt Power Plants are generally more expensive to build and operate than PV solar technology, due to the complex nature of the technology and the need for specialized equipment and materials. However, the cost of Molten Salt Power Plants is also decreasing as the technology becomes more widely adopted and economies of scale are achieved. The cost of electricity (LCOE) for a Molten Salt Power Plant in the US ranges from $0.16/kWh to $0.21/kWh, depending on the size and location of the plant. In comparison, for utility-scale PV solar projects in the US ranges from $0.03/kWh to $0.05/kWh, making it a more cost-effective option currently.

Setup done, almost there, max we could do with gushing wind

Hi All, thanks for the drive it was great! I will never joke about totem animals again, as I got punished with a pop out for such misconduct by the spirits. thanks for helping me out with it. see you in sands!

thank u for the lovely drive @Davie Chase @Brette @Jonny90... had lots of fun driving at no 3 ... there was lots to learn today for me and hope to improve and learn in the comming drives.. i thank the whole convoy for their patience and the guys who helped with the refusals i had especially @Davie Chase @Brette still learning.... and looking forward for more drives to come...

Thank you Thank you Thank you! Dekuji Dekuji Dekuji @M.Seidam for a super adventurous and marvelous night drive! I really enjoyed it, especially the beautiful spots for our breaks, just breathtaking 🥰. Thank you, @Tom Vfor a perfect track and thank you, @Xavi Moyano for great night lights 😁. It was wonderfully spent night with all of you, thank you for being such an amazing community 🧡.

The trailer looks very promising. Looking fwd to it.

Hey Gary, was about to say maybe pan gasket, it’s a common issue so it’s very likely

@Frederic my 2014 pajero had the up shift issue.. and I’ve had conflicting information about which models have or are free from this issue… @taz911 best is frederic suggested ; to floor on 1st gear!! I agree that pajero are little underpowered than the X , however it’s the skill that counts in the end! Additionally it’s a perfect family car for weekend getaway! Can carry everything u need for days’ of camping for the full family. The flip side is expensive spare parts. with few modifications to engine oil cooling and bash plates, you are ready to roll on 80% of dunes in UAE.

From pics it seems the crank seal is leaking and it will only leak when the engine is running. If it's reached the dripping stage, you shouldn't drive and get it checked and changed at the earliest.

This was the closest I took with my phone at 3x magnification. May we make this post a place to share our pics of the Chimney!!

Congratulations @Davie Chase on your first lead. Apart from the few refusals and stucks, it was a smooth and enjoyable ride.

Here is the plan for tomorrow's Grand Iftar gathering. A few of us will be going early to the gathering venue to secure a place and set up cars and canopies, so if any of you like to join early and not fasting, you are most welcome to join by 4 PM. We will be using Radio Channel 4 (446.081) for all comms. Set up team: 4:00 PM Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/3zBbCKDhDnE3Hygd6 Gathering Venue: https://goo.gl/maps/aMni2oVeVhCydVwt8 (24°47'50.5"N - 55°23'52.6"E) @Klaus Pedersen @Looper @Frederic @Anirudh Dayma @Chris Wing @Salim Akhtar @Vaibhav @Sunny84 @Maheshwar @fayez @Abdul Basit Khan @Jessica Lambert @rohit kumar @ASAD. @Waqas Parvez @M.Seidam @GeorgeFJ @Krishna R @Patrick @Ranjan Das @Marketa Dobesova @Arsalan Ehsan @Gary F @VIJAYA KUMAR DOPPA @Davie Chase Everyone else can reach the same meeting point by 5:30 and deflate to 15 PSI (not much of sand driving) and be ready. If anyone running late then you can simply deflate to 15 PSI and follow the nearby track to reach the gathering venue, it's pretty much a flat sandy open area and you will see Carnity canopies or cars with Carnity flags. Please do not bring too much food for others, as everyone will be carrying their own, a little extra to share is plenty. Please carry garbage liners to clean up after the gathering, as we should not leave any trash behind. No driving on sand or play area near to gathering venue as it disturbs the iftar food setup. When you join or move your car, do it respectfully to not to disturb others. We will be using Radio Channel 4 (446.081) for all comms. Meeting Time: 5:30 PM Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/3zBbCKDhDnE3Hygd6 Gathering Venue: https://goo.gl/maps/aMni2oVeVhCydVwt8 (24°47'50.5"N - 55°23'52.6"E)

As the old adage goes , if it’s leaking it must still have oil in it. After yesterdays drive while adjusting the steering wheel angle (thanks @Mark B for showing how to do this ) for the 5th time on @Benjamin Jeep Wrangler JL 18. I notice a few drops of oil on the ground, upon further inspection I noticed a coating of oil around the oil pan and front of the crankcase. I looked over the top of the engine around the filter and cooler couldn’t identify any leak. Checked dipstick and oil level is good, if maybe overfilled. I have an idea of where it’s coming from and suspect it might be worse under load and climbing. it’s certainly we as there are no other spots on the driveway except where it was parked yesterday. This morning the leak is still present but only a few drops. Booked appointment at agency still have one service left under contract. Any fellow wrangler owners here seen this type of leak before.

I thoroughly enjoyed the event, thank you for orgainising.

Look for Vanessa in shiny blue Xterra and Davie in bright red wrangler at meeting point.

We got it booked in for a check on Wednesday m, but I had a chance for a closer inspection today. 3 things discovered. 1. the other location we park the jeep has oil spots , so it’s been leaking at least since Swehan 3 weeks ago. Oil level is still good. 2. Running paper up around the crank there is no oil. Only on the underside. 2. Running finger around oil pan has small oil seep everywhere including the drain plug. im hopeful it’s just the oil pan gasket , good to have another jeep in the driveway to reference. Interestingly there seems to be a mix of fasteners holding the pan on the wrangler vs uniform fastener type on the gladiator. Last pic is of the newer gladiator

The Pajeros pre-2011 seem to have the upshift issues from what I recalled. Easy to test before buying is to put in 1st gear and just floor it

With 7 seat requirement, Pajero is indeed well suited for age, cost, resale and performance. A price drop in summer might be 5-10% not a big dip, but it also opens a floor for a lot more choices for road-driven vehicles. However, if it was for Xterra, it's worth the wait to really find road-driven Xterra (as they are getting rare now), but that's not the case with Pajero and you may find clean road-driven Pajero very easily at any time. Just make sure to stay away from Pajero models that have upshifting issues as that will make your offroading experience more challenging. Maybe @GauravSoni and @Frederic can shed more light on the exact model year (which I don't rem correctly).

@Davie Chase well done on the first lead, great drive, looking forward for more drives with you. Excellent comms which I know was only half the story as you had two radios to communicate on. A very enjoyable drive with few stops and and on time exit 👍

Thank you @Brette for allowing me to lead the drive today, it was an amazing experience being at the front and taking a convoy through the dunes. Your patience, support and guidance was fantastic. We did encounter a few stucks but with the help of some excellent shovelling we were able to self recover all without the need of ropes and winches. Murphy’s law took over just after the first break where we were discussing how bush free the dunes were. We then spent the next 30-40 minutes battling bushes 😳😳😁 @Jonny90 you did an amazing job of sweep today, really appreciated the clear and concise comma from the back that kept the convoy together and on track. Thank you to the rest of the convoy @MarkB@Bashar Beasha @Stan @Jad Moussalli @Gary F @george charbel @Rk ram for following me wherever I went lol, I had a blast and I hope you guys had as much fun as I did. You all drove amazingly well with only a handful of refusals and stucks in some tricky terrain. Once again thank you hope you have an amazing weekend and hope to see you in the sand again very soon. 👍👍😁😁😎😎

Welcome to Grand Iftar Drive - It's once in a year opportunity for all off-roaders in UAE to meet and sit in one place to enjoy Grand Iftar together. It's being held in coordination with most off-road clubs and approx. 400-500 off-road cars show up every year. Whether you are fasting or not, it's a must to attend to watch the union of off-roaders and witness the love and respect that everyone shares in this small world of off-roading in UAE. Please feel free to join us with your friends and family with your Iftari & a little extra to share with others. Please do not litter as it kills beautiful wildlife, so please carry enough garbage liners to pack the trash. Drive Details Level: ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME When: 2 April 2023, Sunday Meeting time: 5:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/3zBbCKDhDnE3Hygd6 Gathering Venue: https://goo.gl/maps/aMni2oVeVhCydVwt8 (24°47'50.5"N - 55°23'52.6"E) Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Iftar food and drinks for yourself and a little extra to share, camping chairs, mat, etc. Approximate finish time: 8:00 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. UNLIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: PLEASE RSVP ON THE BELOW CALENDAR EVENT

That's the only thing we cant recommend here, but you can quickly google various options and read the Google reviews to find competent places.

The answer is simple: Pathfinder r51! The 7 seater Xterra. Rarely you will find a Pathfinder offroad abused, and it's cheaper than Xterra most of the time 😃

We will miss you, Doc 🥲

Thanks for great info @Looper on most curious subject on Dubai offroad drives. It's really an engineering marvel. Please add the close up pics too above, if you still have them.

Today, I had the opportunity to lead my first Fewbie level off-road drive, and it was an unforgettable experience. The convoy consisted of five cars, so we were able to cover 65 km distance, which is an excellent number for any drive. Our moving speed was 24.6 km/h, and we managed to maintain a steady pace throughout the drive without getting stuck or bogged down. The objective of the drive was to drive between 2k-3k RPMs and we definitely achieved it. The first part of the drive took us through some medium sized technical areas, where we warmed up a bit and continued to the wide-open dunes of Lisaili. Here we could maintain a steady pace and cruised though the dunes. In the middle part of the drive, we explored a few large dunes near Qudra, which offered breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape. The dunes were quite steep and required some advanced driving skills, but we all managed to make it to the top and enjoy the stunning views. Overall, it was an amazing drive with great weather and great company. I would like to thank all the drivers for their support and cooperation throughout the drive, and I look forward to more adventures like this in the future. Thank you @GauravSoni for giving me this opportunity and letting me lead without worries - appreciate your support in the drive. @Juan R you drove very well for your first Fewbie Drive in desert and were able to manage the terrain quite well. @premindra rajaram you were excellent in your Xterra and hope you had fun. @Gurcharan Mehta nice to see you back after a while with a new desert vehicle. You did an excellent job of sweeping at the end of the convoy.

we were drawing a flower 🌸 on the big red 😃 👍

Thanks for the detailed responses! Even after looking at the Xterra, I'm inclining towards the pajero as one of the core reasons I decided to go for an SUV was 7 seats. I understand they aren't full blown seats but the space is important as I will have my family/in-laws travelling to Dubai every now and then. I also understand that there's a huge power difference between the pajero and the xterra but I can't seem to like how the xterra looks even with decent mods!!? (I'm also a sucker for looks) I have a few viewings scheduled today. If the toyota, LC and Lexus are not worthy options I think I will stick to a Pajero 3.8. My next query is about the season: As I don't have a car rn so I keep renting through ekar/udrive and we use cabs spending around ~2ish K AED every month which may be around 4-5 K by June. Will I be saving more in the off-season? If its a similar amount that I'll be saving I'd rather buy now and be a part of some newbie drives before the season is gone. I understand I'll be spending on fuel/repairs too but that's going to be true later too. My daily mileage to work and back is very low(not even 15kms back & forth) Is it going to be a higher discount that this? Should I really wait given the maths LOOOL Care to explain what this means

I’ve really enjoyed the drive. Great leading, @Davie Chase thank you and @Bretteand @Jonny90 for making this happen. Clear communication, nice route, diverse terrain and completion on time that is also important to get most of one’s weekend) looking forward to new drives with you @Davie Chase

Congratulations @Davie Chase on your first lead…I know it will be the first of many! You did a great job, wouldn’t have known it was your 1st, unless you had said! Comms were 1st class which made it very easy to follow you. Thanks for the opportunity to sweep was great fun! Well done all, great drive, great fun and look forward to catching up with you all soon!

That's great @Frederic, so when you plan to sell the car, you can simply mention "never gone off-road"

Great idea with animals!

Good morning all ! I hope you are all looking forward to this drive. The plan is to explore an area which is not often visited by offroaders, and i hope that means we can find some nice virgin dunes. @Stumpy Paj@DanielN@Hugo@[email protected]@Imran Asghar@Dinesh Kumar A@Andrei S@Pieter Potgieter@Ashutosh Garg@Amr Aydin@Vanessa8580 I have appointed each of you a totem animal that will keep you safe on the drive. We will be using Channel 2 - 446.031 Mhz. Please make sure to bring your offroad gears as per your level. If there are any changes in the convoy list or dropouts, we will alter the convoy setup if needed the same morning. See you all soon !

Yes I did, she went from dark blue to metallic blue

sauce: reddit

Dear Team, Unfortunately won't be able to join today, I am down since morning with flu, cold and fever 🤢🥵. I missed it , 😭. Looking forward for pictures, please do share it here for us who where not able to make it. Happy Iftar to all.

@Carnity Dear Gaurav , carnity family and members . Sadly saying I won’t be able to attend the grand iftar . Please enjoy .

I’m gonna remove myself from the event @Gaurav. I was being optimistic that I could make it and I have a Jeep down that needs to be looked at. Hope you all have a lovely time.