Research by the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has come down in support of solar thermal power generation as a cost effective alternative.
ARENA today announced the results of the study, supported by $180,000 of its own funding, into solar thermal power integration with the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The CEO of ARENA Ivor Frischknecht said the new research demonstrated how solar thermal offered a cost-effective alternative to network enhancements.
“The study found that solar thermal could eliminate the need for network augmentation in more than 70 per cent of the cases examined.
“This is significant, as most of the rise in electricity prices over recent years can be attributed to investment in network infrastructure to meet Australia’s peak power demands.”
Unlike solar PV power generation, solar thermal can provide power 24 hours a day thanks to storage solutions and easy hybridisation with other energy sources.
The study was collaboration led by the Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association (AUSTELA) with research from the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures and support from the University of NSW, Ergon Energy and IT Power.
Seven power network companies operating in the NEM also provided essential data.
Mr Frischknecht said the results have been used to create interactive maps that provide insight into network investment, firm capacity and solar thermal cost effectiveness.
“This type of analysis is critical to attracting investors and will help create a pathway for the energy industry and the finance sector to deploy solar thermal technologies in Australia.
“The maps go hand-in-hand with the System Advisor Model (SAM) solar thermal modelling software ARENA announced last year.
“Together these tools provide a very clear picture of solar thermal opportunities in Australia.”
AUSTELA is running workshops today and February 12 in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively on how to use the study results and SAM software.
ARENA was set up by the Australian government with a $2.5 billion budget to fund renewable energy projects, support research and development activities, and support activities to capture and share knowledge.
The report and maps are freely available at breakingthesolargridlock.net
The SAM software is freely available at www.austela.com.au/projects
