Post-combustion CO2 capture: This has the added bonus of taking
off the CO2 in a pure stream for long-term sequestration. “Solar
thermal can also provide a valuable source of low-grade heat to drive
the post-combustion capture of CO2 from existing power stations – which
is an additional opportunity for the technology,” Dr Wibberley adds.
Parabolic troughs most promising: Of the various CST
technologies, parabolic troughs are under the most active development
worldwide and appear to offer the best economics which a carbon price
would make more favourable still.
Intelligent combination of technologies needed: Van Schagen
says: “In the polarized public debate, Australia’s energy challenge is
often depicted as fossil-versus-renewables. In reality, the answer lies
in an intelligent combination of the best technologies and resources to
produce cost-effective energy with next to zero greenhouse and
pollution emissions.”
Aust is uniquely placed: He argues that Australia has sunlight,
coal and gas in vast amounts. “We can combine them to create ideal
energy solutions in ways simply unavailable to most other countries on
earth.”
Reference: CCSD Media Release, February 15, 2005. More information: Mr Frank van Schagen, CEO, CCSD, 07 3871 4400. Frank.vanSchagen@ccsd.biz website: http://www.ccsd.biz Dr Louis Wibberley, CCSD and CSIRO, 02 4960 6050.
Erisk Net, 15/2/2006