Joseph Romm: Concentrated solar thermal power — a core climate solution

[RedEarth]

Other than energy efficiency (see here), I don’t believe any set of technologies will be more important to the climate fight than concentrated solar power (CSP).


Clockwise top left: Newcastle, Australia central receiver array; Nevada Solar On parabolic trough; Spain's PS 10 Solar Tower; Liddell, Australia Line 1 CLFR being tested



I have a long article on CSP in Salon, “The technology that will save humanity: The solar energy you haven’t heard of is the one best suited to generate clean electricity for generations to come.”

OK, maybe “will” should be “may help” and CP readers have heard about CSP for a while (see here). But I do think CSP deserves much more attention:

It is the best source of clean energy to replace coal and sustain economic development. I bet that it will deliver more power every year this century than coal with carbon capture and storage — for much less money and with far less environmental damage….

How much less? Many industry experts told me CSP will likely deliver power for well under $.10 per kilowatt hour fully installed in the next decade.

What is its market potential? I think it could be more than two wedges, which is several thouand gigawatts:


It would be straightforward to build CSP systems at whatever rate industry and governments needed, ultimately 50 to 100 gigawatts a year growth or more.

Why is CSP so important?

Because it’s the only form of clean electricity that can meet all the demanding requirements of this century….

http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/14/concentrated-solar-thermal-power-a-core-climate-solution/


.......from Salon..........

The technology that will save humanity


The solar energy you haven't heard of is the one best suited to generate clean electricity for generations to come.
By Joseph Romm

Apr. 14, 2008 | One of oldest forms of energy used by humans -- sunlight concentrated by mirrors -- is poised to make an astonishing comeback. I believe it will be the most important form of carbon-free power in the 21st century. That's because it's the only form of clean electricity that can meet all the demanding requirements of this century.

Certainly we will need many different technologies to stop global warming. They include electric cars and plug-in hybrids, wind turbines and solar photovoltaics, which use sunlight to make electricity from solid-state materials like silicon semiconductors. Yet after speaking with energy experts and seeing countless presentations on all forms of clean power, I believe the one technology closest to being a silver bullet for global warming is the other solar power: solar thermal electric, which concentrates the sun's rays to heat a fluid that drives an electric generator. It is the best source of clean energy to replace coal and sustain economic development. I bet that it will deliver more power every year this century than coal with carbon capture and storage -- for much less money and with far less environmental damage.

Clearly, the world needs a massive amount of carbon-free electricity by 2050 to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions. The industrialized countries need to cut their carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation by more than 80 percent in four decades. Developing countries need to find a way to raise living standards without increasing electricity emissions in the short term, and then reduce those emissions sharply. And, over the next few decades, the world needs to switch to a ground transportation system whose primary fuel is clean electricity.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/04/14/solar_electric_thermal/print.html

[kestrel91316]

1. It's definitely lower-tech than PVs.

So even if TSHTF, it would be feasible to built these facilities.

[depakid]

2. The technology is well suited for Australia

with its abundant sunlight, suitable land for siting- and, most importantly a population of only about 20 million people, with comparatively few urban concentrations.

Even there, however, major obstacles remain. Cheap coal and lack of government support has hampered development- and in New South Wales, the state labor party has grown remarkably corrupt. They're currently engaged in a very unpopular scheme to deregulate and privatize electrical power (why even sensible people can't learn from others' mistakes just boggles the mind).

On another front, the Greens along with labor left have been fighting a thus far losing battle against real estate developers intent on undermining land use laws and emulating the American pattern of mindless short term growth, profit taking and sprawl, with all the attendant cost shifting and externalities.

Yet unlike America, the Aussie economy is still booming, and could transition away from coal (and eventually petrol) without the magnitude of shock- or collapse that people in the states are going to feel in the coming decade.

The problem- like anywhere- lies with foresight and political fortitude (as well as a willingness to accept and overcome the psychology of prior investment and entitlement to unsustainable patterns of living).