Subscribe to Newsletter
  • ACQUIRE

logo

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Trending
  • Business Insight
  • Events
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact

New tech a curtain raiser for cheap clean solar energy

26 Mar, 2021



Technology that stores clean energy by heating particles with captured sunlight is cost-effective and reliable, modelling from The Australian National University (ANU) has shown.  

The ANU research team examined solar thermal technology developed by US-partner Sandia National Laboratories in a team including ANU, CSIRO and the University of Adelaide.

The technology works by using concentrated sunlight to heat a ‘curtain’ of falling low-cost particles to 700 degrees Celsius. The heated particles are stored for later use in overnight electricity generation or industrial process heat. The particles are then lifted up for reheating, providing a highly efficient, cyclical system.

“Our modelling shows a concentrated solar power system built around this falling ‘particle curtain’ could generate a megawatt-hour of stored electricity for less than 60 US dollars,” said one of the researchers involved in the project, Associate Professor John Pye.

“A least-cost system built at the 100-megawatt scale would come with enough storage to run the turbine for 14 hours, easily enough to allow continuous night-time electricity for large parts of the year.”

“This form of energy is not only inexpensive and clean; with its built-in low-cost storage, it can contribute greatly to the reliability of the renewable energy mix, and to facilitating the global transition from fossil fuels to 100 per cent renewable energy as mandated by the Paris Agreement.”

The ANU researchers also contributed to the development of a novel multi-stage falling particle solar receiver design that maximises the amount of light absorbed and retained by the system, as well as contributing to the fundamental understanding of how light and particles interact in these systems.

Based on ANU modelling comparing this with competing technologies, the United States Department of Energy has today announced US$25 million to test the technology at a new facility in New Mexico. Australia will continue to collaborate with the US on developing the new technology including trials at the CSIRO solar thermal falling particle test facility.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said the University’s work has helped drive major advances in clean energy capture, storage and use.

“At ANU we are committed to solving some of the world’s biggest challenges,” he said.

“This includes ensuring our future energy systems and technology is renewable, sustainable and helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”

“This crucial work by our researchers contributing to this important Australia-US collaboration has outlined the incredible potential of this technology and is helping lay the groundwork for much needed low-cost, green energy available on-demand,” Professor Schmidt said.

The ANU researchers are based at the Solar Thermal Group and include Associate Professor Joe Coventry, Associate Professor John Pye, Professor Wojciech Lipinski and their students, in partnership with Dr Apurv Kumar from Federation University.

Related Articles

Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025

Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025

SOLAR AND STORAGE LIVE QUEENSLAND

SOLAR AND STORAGE LIVE QUEENSLAND

ASEAN Battery and Energy Storage Expo 2025

ASEAN Battery and Energy Storage Expo 2025

ASEAN Solar PV and Energy Storage Expo

ASEAN Solar PV and Energy Storage Expo

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Breaking

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
09 Jun

AEMO’s distribution focus enables community participation

06 Jun

Report shows 20 million gained energy access in 2024

06 Jun

Kulak Solar Village is Iraq’s first off-grid community

06 Jun

5B receives $46 million to expand manufacturing

06 Jun

EnergyAustralia admits offsets do not undo harm

12 Jun

Cumberland celebrates planting its 1,000th tree

10 Jun

Stantec helps New Epping achieve sustainability excellence

09 Jun

RMIT engineers transform low-grade clay into cement

09 Jun

Perth’s urban tree canopy saw slight increase in 2024

30 May

Green homes now mainstream Australian property priority

09 Jun

Australia’s hydrogen certification framework faces scrutiny

09 Jun

Biofuel demand outpaces supply, risking shortages

28 May

Major contract awarded for methanol facility in UAE

27 May

Archaeologist accuses WA government of North West Shelf cover-up

13 May

Queensland resources sector drives energy transition

  • BATTERY ASSET MANAGEMENT SUMMIT

Online Magazine

    Current Cover
  • Login
  • Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe to Newsletter

Our Titles

  • Share on Newsletter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
© Sage Media Group 2025 All Rights Reserved.
×
Authorization
  • Registration
 This feature has been disabled
 This feature has been disabled until further notice, however you may still register
×
Registration
  • Autorization
Register
* All fields required