Sunny outlook for a new energy source

THERE are much saner alternatives to nuclear power, including a simple, mature technology that can deliver huge amounts of clean energy without any of the headaches of nuclear power.

It is called Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), the technique of concentrating sunlight using mirrors to create heat, and then using the heat to raise steam and drive turbines and generators, just like a conventional power station.

It is possible to store solar heat in melted salts so that electricity generation may continue through the night or on cloudy days.

This technology has been generating electricity successfully in California since 1985 and half a million people there currently get their power from this source. CSP plants are being planned or built in many parts of the world.

CSP works best in hot deserts and, of course, there are not many of these in Europe.

But it is feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity over very long distances using highly-efficient HVDC transmission lines.

With transmission losses estimated at about 3% per 1000 km, solar electricity may, for example, be transmitted from north Africa to Britain and Ireland with only about 10% loss of power.

A large-scale HVDC transmission grid has also been proposed by the wind energy company Airtricity as a means of optimising the use of wind power throughout Europe.

In a recent report commissioned by the German government, it is estimated that CSP electricity, imported from north Africa and the Middle East, could become one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Europe, including the cost of transmission.

That German government’s report shows in great detail how Europe can meet all its needs for electricity, make deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions and phase out nuclear power at the same time.

Dr Gerry Wolff

18 Penlon

Menai Bridge

Anglesey, LL59 5LR

Wales