Solar, Not Nuclear

REGARDING ‘No, No To The Nukes’ (2007-02-02), there is absolutely no need for nuclear power in Namibia or South Africa since there is a simple mature technology that can deliver huge amounts of clean energy without any of the headaches of nuclear power.

I refer to ‘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 Californians currently get their electricity from this source.CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world.CSP works best in hot deserts and, of course, these are not always nearby! But it is feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity over very long distances using highly efficient ‘HVDC’ transmission lines.With transmission losses at about 3% per 1000 km, solar electricity may be transmitted to anywhere in Namibia.A portion of the Namib desert would be sufficient to meet all of Namibia’s needs, and South Africa’s as well.In the ‘TRANS-CSP’ 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.A large-scale HVDC transmission grid has also been proposed by Airtricity as a means of optimising the use of wind power throughout Europe.Further information about CSP may be found at ww.trecers.net and www.trec-uk.org.uk Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm.The many problems associated with nuclear power are summarised at www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no nukes.htm.Dr Gerry Wolff Via e-mailIt 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 Californians currently get their electricity from this source.CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world.CSP works best in hot deserts and, of course, these are not always nearby! But it is feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity over very long distances using highly efficient ‘HVDC’ transmission lines.With transmission losses at about 3% per 1000 km, solar electricity may be transmitted to anywhere in Namibia.A portion of the Namib desert would be sufficient to meet all of Namibia’s needs, and South Africa’s as well.In the ‘TRANS-CSP’ 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.A large-scale HVDC transmission grid has also been proposed by Airtricity as a means of optimising the use of wind power throughout Europe.Further information about CSP may be found at ww.trecers.net and www.trec-uk.org.uk Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm.The many problems associated with nuclear power are summarised at www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no nukes.htm.Dr Gerry Wolff Via e-mail