Antinuclear

Solar Dawn project- Concentrated Thermal Power (CSP) in the balance for Australia

as a new report points out, Australia has a unique opportunity to grab a significant share of the global supply chain for solar thermal, a technology recognised by the International Energy Agency, 

Industry awaits dawn of federal solar project BY  GILES PARKINSON   The Australian June 08, 2012  IN the next few weeks, the federal government will learn whether the $1.2 billion Solar Dawn project in Queensland has been able to meet its extended deadline to obtain finance for the 250 megawatt solar thermal project.

It’s sure to be a close-run thing and the solar thermal industry is
looking on with apprehension.

Although opinions are divided about whether it was a good idea for the
Solar Flagships scheme to plump for a project of that size to showcase
new technology, or whether a suite of smaller projects with different
systems would have been a more realistic proposal, there is a fear
that if Solar Dawn fails, it could set the industry back years,
particularly given the level of political rhetoric surrounding
renewable energy and government incentives.

It would be doubly frustrating for the industry because, as a new
report points out, Australia has a unique opportunity to grab a
significant share of the global supply chain for solar thermal, a
technology recognised by the International Energy Agency, and by
various mappers of 100 per cent renewable ambitions, as crucial to the
move to low and zero-carbon energy grids. It is expected to be worth
$1 trillion or more if deployment forecasts come true.
Solar thermal, also known as concentrating solar power, is different
from solar photovoltaics because, rather than generating electricity
directly from panels, it is most commonly used to generate steam to
drive a turbine, and its energy can be more easily stored. That gives
it the advantage of dispatchable power crucial to balancing the
fluctuating delivery of wind and solar PV energy, and the vagaries of
consumer demand. It is particularly suited to Australia’s spoilt
continent.

It also happens that Australia is one of the leading developers of CSP
systems. Later this month, the first demonstration plant of
concentrated solar PV technology will be unveiled by the listed Silex
Systems in Victoria, while the Solar Dawn project, and a 44MW solar
booster installation at the neighbouring Kogan Creek coal-fired power
station, are both using Australian technology.

Solar dish technology developed by the ANU is being used in the Solar
Oasis project in Whyalla, and the CSIRO also has numerous pilot
projects using different forms and applications of CSP technology.
A report prepared by IT Power on behalf of the Australian Solar
Institute suggests solar thermal could account for nearly half of
Australia’s electricity needs by 2050, and even if up to 15GW of
capacity could be deployed in the coming two decades, it would account
for nearly one third of capacity and up to one fifth of actual
generation.

However, the report notes the technology needs support and deployment
to help reduce costs, just as the wind energy and solar PV
technologies have enjoyed. ……
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/industry-awaits-dawn-of-federal-solar-project/story-e6frg9if-1226388097007

June 8, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, solar | solar