Sunlight and natural gas in new energy source

CSIRO scientists have combined solar energy and natural gas in a process capable of producing large-scale energy to power Australia's future industrial and domestic needs.

The process combines the energy from sunlight with the energy in natural gas to produce fuels that can be used to generate electricity in gas turbines or fuel cells. The center piece of the project is a solar thermal concentrating dish. Arrays of mirrors focus the sun's rays onto a reactor to create steam. The steam in turn reacts with methane (natural gas) to produce a high energy gas (syngas), with up to 40% of its energy content being embodied solar energy.

The technology will make use of two of Australia's most abundant energy resources - sunlight and natural gas. It can produce syngas or hydrogen, both of which are suitable for electricity generation. Syngas can also be mixed with natural gas and delivered via the existing pipeline for use in conventional gas appliances.

If hydrogen is produced, the system creates the opportunity to separate the carbon dioxide, so it can be safely re-buried underground. This would greatly reduce greenhouse emissions from power generation.

"This technology provides the energy resource industry with a path to greater sustainability with significantly reduced greenhouse emissions per unit of energy generated," said Dr Adrian Williams, Chief of CSIRO Energy Technology.

Item provided courtesy of CSIRO