CSIRO and ARENA have teamed up and created a breakthrough in solar thermal that could prove that solar can operate just as efficiently as a coal-fired power plant.

In a world-first at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, a solar thermal power plant has created the highest temperature steam on record. This proves that solar can power steam turbines just as well (if not better) than advance coal-fired plants.

‘‘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,’’ said CSIRO’s energy director, Alex Wonhas.

The project has two test plants which concentrates light from 600 mirrors. The heat energy from this is sent to receiver towers where the water is heated to produce steam that drives turbines. It has shown that this process can produce supercritical steam at 570 degrees Celcius and 23.5 megapascals.

“Achieving the critical combination of high pressure and high temperature is a giant step,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht. “The ability to generate hot and pressurised ‘supercritical’ steam from the sun, brings solar thermal a step closer to competing with fossil fuels,” he said.

Project leader Robbie McNaughton said that more research is needed and they plan to test the boundaries of this technology and see how far they can push it. He said, “In addition to being a renewable energy world first, this landmark development stands to deliver greater plant efficiency as well as advance a diverse energy future for Australia.”

ARENA contributed $2.8 billion to the $9.7 billion project. ARENA is facing complete closure from the Abbott Government while CSIRO is getting funding cuts to the total of $111 million.

“CSIRO, ARENA and the private sector have achieved the solar-energy equivalent of breaking the sound barrier. Meanwhile, CSIRO and ARENA face the Abbott Budget axe,” said Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt in a statement.

“This project needs funding to continue developing its breakthrough technology, not least to commercialise these advancements, thereby bringing the country many more benefits. Imagine what our country could accomplish if our clean-energy industry had the resources, subsidies and support the Abbott Government lavishes on the non-renewable, dirty coal, mining and resources industries.”