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'Solar, not nuclear' - Dr Gerry Wolff, TREC-UK Co-ordinator

Sir,
Regarding EU 'energy revolution' does not convince, the EU is quite wrong to suggest that nuclear power may be needed because there is a simple, mature technology available 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, there are not many of these in Europe! But, it is feasible (and economic) to transmit solar electricity over very long distances using highly efficient 'HVDC' transmission lines. With transmission losses at around 3% per 1000km, solar electricity may, for example, be transmitted from North Africa to London with only about 10% loss of power. A large-scale HVDC transmission grid has also been proposed by the wind energy company Airtricity as a means of optimising the use of wind power throughout Europe.

In the recent '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. That report shows in great detail how Europe can meet all its needs for electricity, make deep cuts in CO2 emissions, and phase out nuclear power at the same time.

Further information about CSP may be found at www.trec-uk.org.uk and www.trecers.net . Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm. Go to www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no_nukes.htm  for more on 'the problems with nuclear'.
Dr Gerry Wolff
TREC-UK Co-ordinator 
Menai Bridge
Anglesey, UK

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