Solar Plant That Stores Energy At Night

A former professor Dr David Mills of the University of Sydney could not find funds for its large solar energy plants in Australia, but U.S. investors have not had the slightest problem in investing at least $ 40 million in the idea.

The first of Dr. Mills factory for mass production of solar parks will open in Las Vegas this year. Last week we speak with Australian politicians interested in Nevada, including the NSW Environment Minister, Verity Firth.

Power plants, designed in the laboratory of the University of Sydney reflect sunlight with mirrors to boil water and use steam turbines, generating electricity at a price not much higher than the coal-fired power station.

But, unlike some solar power systems can´t work when the sun is shining by storing heat in insulated chambers for rainy days, and continue to supply energy to the grid.

The technology is not complicated or particularly expensive, but being used in Nevada rather than Australia, because this is where the funding, said Dr. Mills.

“Not really talking about government money or subsidies, we are trying to establish a level playing field for technology,” said Dr. Mills.

“There is great debate in the U.S., but I do not think the debate in Australia.”

Dr Mills moved the headquarters of Ausra, the company founded by a USA last year because he realized that there were more banks willing to take risks in large-scale developments that directly feed the energy grid.

“We have shown that the system will compete with electricity from coal, especially when the carbon capture and storage is an extra cost,” said Mills.

“And obviously we have no fuel cost.”

“There have been regular questions from potential investors in Australia, but so far none has found a project on a scale that may begin to see a coal power stations being replaced by the green” Ausra has a pilot plant who now works and saves an estimated 4000 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

The government of Australia would like to see more schemes like this, but offers no special incentives at this time.

Ms Firth said it hoped to introduce the emissions trading scheme from the federal government and 20% renewable energy by 2020, close to the state fund for renewable energy, $ 40 million, Dr Mills encouraged persisting in a solar plant large scale in the state.

“Obviously we’d like to see this kind of industry in Australia, it is absolutely part of the long-term agenda,” said Firth.