Australia seeks to export SolarGen technology to India....

 

Australia is exploring the opportunities of exporting SolarGen technology which it feels has potential applications in Indian industry. Some of the sectors identified are petrochemicals, fertilisers and transportation.

Developed by Australian scientists the technology can provide a sustainable and cost effective alternative for the production of hydrogen, which in turn will help these industries, says Jim Hinkley, of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

In India recently, Hinkley told that, “There is a particularly strong potential to roll out the technology in Gujarat and Rajasthan because both states have excellent solar resources and natural gas infrastructure, as well as being major industrial users of hydrogen”.

The technology facilitates concentrating the sun's rays to drive a reaction between water and natural gas which stores solar energy in the form of chemical bonds. The resulting fuel has a higher energy yield than natural gas. The SolarGas can then be used to produce high-efficiency electricity in a gas engine or turbine, he explained.

According to CSIRO by using Sun’s rays for heat, in combination with new catalysts, SolarGas uses upto 50 per cent less fossil fuel and higher percentage of water as well.

A study has also found that the technology developed by the CSIRO could help India’s efforts towards achieving energy security. Some of the benefits include improved energy and food security by reducing natural gas consumption; new jobs created through local manufacturing and operation of the technology; the potential to produce solar liquid fuels for transport.

The study was funded by the Australian Government and undertaken by CSIRO in collaboration with the Solar Energy Corporation of India. It has also developed a concept design for a pilot scale SolarGas facility and identified numerous potential host sites suitable for such a pilot project.

Energy and energy security are critical issues for Australia and India, and we have much to offer each other by sharing our renewable technology expertise and technology, said Australia’s High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling while launching the study recently.

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Solar gas technology has great potential for India: Study

 

Solar gas technology has great potential for India for securing its energy needs, a new study has found.

The study, conducted by Australia's National Science Agency - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), has found that the new technology has potential of creating job, providing improved energy and food security, greater yields in fertilizer and produce solar liquid fuels for transport.

Gujarat and Rajasthan were identified as key states for India for the application of the technology due to excellent solar resource, existing natural gas infrastructure and existing major industrial users of hydrogen in the petro-chemical and fertilizer industry, officials elaborated.

"The technology has strong potential in Gujarat and Rajasthan because both states have excellent resources and natural gas infrastructure as well as being major industrial users of hydrogen," CSIRO's Senior Research Scientist, Jim Hinkley said during the launch of the study at the Australian High Commission today.

The technology concentrates the sun's rays to drive a reaction between water and natural gas which stores solar energy in the form of chemical bonds.

Hinkley further added that application of solar gas technology include electricity production through combustion in gas engine, to make pure hydrogen for end uses such as fertilizer production and others, as a blend between natural gas for cleaner burning transport fuel and others.

Officials said that apart from undertaking an assessment of potential industrial application of solar gas in India, the study also aimed at identifying potential sites and develop localised cost for implementation of a pilot scale solar gas facility in India.

"India needs energy security and it is looking at countries like Australia to help provide that security and Australia is also looking to India for continued investment and support with our resources," Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling said.

He said both India and Australia are deeply committed to having renewable energy as part of the energy mix.

"We have this initiative for solar gas and the research and study which has been done. India is very interested in this sort of technology. This work is also bringing together innovation and research between our two countries," he said.

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