It's year 2010 and there is a need to update the solar energy stakes in Australia and around the world, and see what's new and what topics and technologies are relevant. The world is looking towards solutions for global warming yet there is disagreement on issues relating to costs. "Cheap and as fast as possible thanks" seems to be what is requested, yet we all know things do operate that way. Okay in reality it will be done over time with this decade to year 2020 representing a significant period of acceleration for renewable solar energy technologies. Australia has always been a fairly big player in solar technologies and we have some of the best solar technologies in world by far. Solar technologies including big dish paraboloid, parabolic trough, photovoltaic panels, concentrated photovoltaics, and CLFR.
Base load solar power is something we have been working on for many years; the ability to store solar energy and return it on demand (night) or at peaks when needed. There are systems that use molten salts which remain hot for up to 7.5 hours after sundown. Molten salt based systems use tracking mirrors to concentrate sunlight to a tower where the salt is located,and the molten salt is then pumped around from there to heat-exchangers. Australia seeks base load solar energy supply and I am sure they will consider molten salt solar energy systems. Australia however has worked on its own base load solar system for nearly three decades (ANU). The system uses ammonia which is split into nitrogen and hydrogen by concentrated solar energy. The gases are stored and returned when needed to generate heat and steam;The solar concentrators in use are the ANU's big dish.
Most promising and most affordable is the solar thermal system from Ausra Australia-see blow. We have parabolic trough reflectors similar to this system, yet the Ausra system is the most cost effective system in the world by far. Tracking mirrors on the ground focus light to the overhead boiler tubes which allow the heating of water and passage of steam to a steam turbine. The system is simple yet extremely effective and efficient, and as far as costs go we have a winner. Austra have a manufacturing facility in Los Vegas Nevada where many jobs are being created as the US prepares for a renewable energy revolution.
Kaneka produce solar panels that do not lose much efficiency as the temperature rises, as most silicone solar electric panels lose up 20% efficiency as the temperature of the cell rises in summer. The Kaneka solar panel design is such that the efficiency loss is minimal in hot temperature environments, and all year performance is significantly more than other solar panels. New solar panels on the market as like from Sharp are near 32% efficient.
see full commercial unit(2009)
The basic model above created by Mr ************** in 2004/5 was for high school and university students. Most state high schools in SW Sydney regions have seen this model along with several universities. It depicts the usage of varies power supply technologies integrated and working together. This would then proceed to a larger "smart" switched system using a controller and with computer control algorithms. These principles were first put forward in the "Smart House" project written for NSW DEUS Minister Diane Beamer in year 2003.The "Smart House" project as well critically warned of power and water infrastructure issues facing NSW, and as well applied advanced water harvesting systems in the "Smart House" project.
http://www.solarsailor.com/ http://solar.anu.edu.au/ http://www.solarbuzz.com http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/solar.htm http://www.science.org.au/nova/005/005key.htm http://www.solaronline.com.au/ Copyright 2003-2010