9 August 2011, Page: 4
A groundbreaking solar research program that has the potential to create millions of zero-emission homes and businesses was unveiled at the Australian National University yesterday. The $9.5 million, three-year project aims to develop and commercialise a rooftop hybrid solar system that offers heating, cooling and electricity.Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said the project, which converts the sun's energy into thermal and electrical energy, will make the solar industry more competitive by offering cost-effective electricity and solar hot water under one system.
"It will maximise the potential of rooftop areas when it comes to meeting the energy demands of the modern home", he said. "Using energy directly where it is generated in this way is not only highly efficient but has the potential to be highly cost effective too". Mr Ferguson said Australia did not have a competitive advantage in manufacturing photovoltaics and should focus on innovation and research.
"The opportunities for Australia in the rapidly growing global solar power market lie in innovation, research and development in licensing and exporting our technologies". Lead investigator Andrew Blakers, from the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, said companies had already expressed interest in manufacturing the rooftop system.
The system will create steam by heating water to 150°. "You can raise industrial steam and drive an air conditioner in a far more effective way", he said. "Importantly, this energy is delivered to [the] retail side of the energy meter where energy costs are three times what the wholesale costs are for both gas and electricity".
The all-in-one system focuses an intense beam of sunlight on to a concentrating collector. The project is being supported by a $3.2 million grant from the Federal Government. ANU will partner with the University of New South Wales, CSIRO, Chromasun and NEP solar.
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