24-hour solar power

Solar Systems and the Australian Government will jointly fund commercialisation of Solar Systems’ baseload solar power technology, according to Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources Ian Macfarlane.

Melbourne-based company Solar Systems will have the capability to produce solar electricity at night and during cloud with the commercialisation of its patented hydrogen production and storage technology.

This technology will make the company’s solar power stations capable of generating electricity on demand, known as baseload power production. The baseload solar power technology has already been demonstrated on a small scale.

The solar power commercialisation program represents a $62 million investment over a seven-year timeframe. The Australian Government and Solar Systems will each contribute $5 million in funding to stage one of the program that will enable Solar Systems to complete the research and development phase of the technology and deliver the design of a commercial-scale demonstration plant.

“This Australian Government funding will bring us a major step closer to mainstream solar power production — overcoming the intermittency of energy from the sun,” said Solar Systems managing director Dave Holland.

“Our company aims to make solar power a significant part of the Australian and international energy supply mix.

“The capability for baseload production, added to Solar Systems’ achievements in cost reduction will open up Solar Systems’ potential market and allow it to compete amongst mainstream power technologies.”

Solar Systems technical director John Lasich, who conducted the initial solar hydrogen demonstrations says, “We’ve already achieved a solar energy conversion efficiency in commercial power stations that is similar to the efficiency of fossil fuel generation. We can now begin to commercialise hydrogen technology to generate 24-hour power from the sun.”