1) Acquasol's process
If they can produce a kilolitre for 0.7 kwh they should take over the desal up the road a ways at Coober Pedy where water starts at $5 per kL for preferred customers. I suggest the mining or horticulture industries may not want this water if it is over say 50c per kL.
2) baseload solar
A poster on regular TOD suggested that baseload means producing a nominated output for 6000 hours per year. I'll believe in baseload solar when there is a plant that can output 500 Mw for 6000 hours a year at a wholesale cost of 10c or less per kwh.
Let's give til year 2013 for either of these targets to be achieved.
I think wholesale electricity from all sources will be above 10c per kWh by 2013 (even before a price on carbon). So solar doesn't need to get that lower than that to be competitive.
I've got little doubt that with a moderate price on carbon, baseload solar thermal will make economic sense before 2013.
Are you saying you think solar thermal doesn't work or that desalination doesn't work ?
They both look pretty well proven to me...
1) Acquasol's process
If they can produce a kilolitre for 0.7 kwh they should take over the desal up the road a ways at Coober Pedy where water starts at $5 per kL for preferred customers. I suggest the mining or horticulture industries may not want this water if it is over say 50c per kL.
2) baseload solar
A poster on regular TOD suggested that baseload means producing a nominated output for 6000 hours per year. I'll believe in baseload solar when there is a plant that can output 500 Mw for 6000 hours a year at a wholesale cost of 10c or less per kwh.
Let's give til year 2013 for either of these targets to be achieved.
I think wholesale electricity from all sources will be above 10c per kWh by 2013 (even before a price on carbon). So solar doesn't need to get that lower than that to be competitive.
I've got little doubt that with a moderate price on carbon, baseload solar thermal will make economic sense before 2013.