Using the power of the sun to roast green chile

Solar power used to roast green chile

Sandia National Laboratories experimented with more environmentally safe options to roast green chile.

Using the power of the sun to roast green chile

Roasting green chile is an important cultural touchstone for New Mexico, but it leads to a seasonal emission of approximately 7,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide -- the equivalent of driving 1,700 cars for a year. Sandia National Laboratories engineer Kenneth Armijo, who grew up on a chile farm in Sabinal, located between Albuquerque and Socorro, New Mexico, thought there was a 'greener' way to roast green chile. The results of his experiments r…

Sandia National Labs uses solar power to roast green chile

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Sandia National Labs is taking a unique approach to roasting New Mexico's staple crop, green chile. Researchers at the labs were able to use concentrated sunlight sun to roast the chile, instead of using propane. Researchers at the labs say just in New Mexico burning propane to roast green chile leads to a seasonal emission of about 7,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide. "The principle behind this research was to see if …

Using the power of the sun to roast green chile

Every August and September the unmistakable pungent aroma of roasting green chile permeates the air across New Mexico and neighboring states.