The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia has achieved a breakthrough for renewable energy with the creation of "supercritical" steam from solar energy.
The $AU9.7 million project was demonstrated at the agency's Energy Center in Newcastle and hit a steam of 23.5 megapascals (MPa) at a temperature of 570 degrees Celsius, according to The Register. The steam is designed to power electricity turbines.
The steam was above the "supercritical" stream pressure level of 22 MPa, which is the level where steam turbine generators work. It is at this pressure, heated over 374 degrees Celsius, that water turns directly into steam without forming bubbles first.
Australia generates close to 90 percent of its electricity from fossil fuel. Only a small amount of power stations use supercritical steam, which is created when water is pressurised at a large amount of force and heated with solar radiation, ABC Online reported.
Robbie McNaughton, leader of the project, said the demonstration is a breakthrough for solar power because of the combination of pressure and temperature shown at scale. He added that the world record set by the project means that the sun, rather than coal or gas, could eventually be used to provide stations with energy.
"Well certainly that's what we'd like to think," McNaughton said. "It's important to remember that what we've done is really the first step along a fairly long path still in demonstrating that we can actually do these things with solar technologies."
Dr. Alex Wonhas, energy director of CSIRO, said the accomplishment is a game-changer for the renewable energy industry, ABC Online reported.
"It's like breaking the sound barrier," he said. "This step change proves solar has the potential to compete with peak performance capabilities of fossil fuel sources."
Ivor Frischknecht, CEO of ARENA, said that while more work is needed before the technology can be used commercially, the demonstration is a significant accomplishment and shows the importance of research and development in the industry. He added that solar thermal energy is now closer to competing with fossil fuel generated power in cost.
