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| CSIRO Heliostat Array as Seen from Tower 2 Photo: CSIRO |
By Colin Jeffrey
In what it is claiming as a world record and breakthrough for solar
thermal energy, researchers at Australia's CSIRO have used solar energy
to generate "supercritical" steam at its solar thermal test plant in
Newcastle, Australia. Using a field of more than 600 directional mirrors
(heliostats) directed at two towers housing solar receivers and
turbines, the researchers generated steam at a pressure of 23.5 mpa
(3,400 psi) and 570° C (1,058° F).
Generating supercritical steam, an ultra-hot, ultra-pressurized steam
that’s used to drive the world’s most advanced power plant turbines,
has previously only been possible using fossil fuels, such as coal or
gas. The CSIRO is touting its generation using solar technology as a
breakthrough for solar energy production, with Dr Alex Wonhas, CSIRO's
Energy Director, seeing it as a potential revolution for the renewable
energy industry.
"It's like breaking the sound barrier; this step change proves solar
has the potential to compete with the peak performance capabilities of
fossil fuel sources," Dr Wonhas said. "Instead of relying on burning
fossil fuels to produce supercritical steam, this breakthrough
demonstrates that the power plants of the future could instead be using
the free, zero emission energy of the sun to achieve the same result."
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