Solar Technology reduces use of fossil fuels NSW, Australia

New South Wales, Australia is the site of a pilot project where solar thermal technology reduces the use of fossil fuels. Coal and solar generate electricity using the same turbines.

Coal power plants can utilize solar to produce 15%-60% of the electricity. A higher quantity is possible, but requires significantly more modifications to be made to the coal boilers.

Mirrors, called Fresnel reflectors capture the sun’s rays and heat water in the tube above. Steam lines deliver the solar energy to the adjacent coal power plant where existing coal turbines are used to produce an electric current.

The ideal situation for retrofitting a coal power plant with solar includes:

1. A large amount of land adjacent to the plant is needed for solar collectors.

2. High quality of solar radiation.

As coal plants are to face carbon tax or cap and trade system, the solar retrofit would be a good investment and reduce these extra tax burdens.

Australia recently ratified the Kyoto Protocol and will begin trading carbon in about a year. Carbon is likely to trade for $30-$60 per ton, according to John O’Donnell vice president of Ausra. Ausra’s solar thermal retrofits are cost effective around $30 a ton.

Certain banks are including carbon emissions in the risk factor when issuing loans to power plants.

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