Antinuclear

Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI) aims to bring down the cost of Solar Thermal Power

CSIRO to lead push to bring cost of CSP to 10c/kWh REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 13 December 2012 The CSIRO is to lead a major new research initiative in solar thermal (concentrating solar power, or CSP) technologies that will aim to reduce the cost of the technology to between 9c and 12c a kilowatt hour, and be able to compete with fossil fuels – possibly as early as 2016.

The Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI) was unveiled today, delivering $35 million of funding from the Australian Solar Institute and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, as part of an $87 million research program that will also draw on money from the private sector. The program brings together Australian and US research institutions, with United States research collaborators and with leading international and Australian CSP companies.

“ASTRI will deliver the next wave of CSP cost reductions to deliver
solar electricity at between 9 -12 cents per kWh, and maintain the
option of a large CSP industry for Australia,” it said in a statement.
“This will allow CSP to compete with fossil fuels in target initial
applications by 2016.”

Sarah Miller, who is leading the project, said the ASTRI initiative is
designed to ensure that “Australia’s CSP industry and Government
partners are ideally positioned to drive Australia to the forefront of
the global CSP industry.”

That’s a welcome ambition, particularly because Australia seems at
risk of falling behind the rest of the world in the deployment of
CSP……. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/csiro-to-lead-push-to-bring-cost-of-solar-thermal-to-10ckwh-83741

December 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, solar