MELBOURNE, June 10:  Australian scientists are working on a USD 5.68 million research programme, where they are developing advanced solar storage to provide solar electricity at any time, day or night.
The research led to a breakthrough when CSIRO used solar energy to generate hot and pressurised ‘supercritical’ steam, at the highest temperatures ever achieved in the world outside of fossil fuel sources.
Supercritical steam is a breakthrough for solar energy and means that one day the sun could be used to drive the most advanced power stations in the world, currently driven only by coal or gas.
The new development was made at Newcastle based energy centre of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), a national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
CSIRO’s Energy Director, Alex Wonhas said this milestone is a game-changer for the renewable energy industry.
“It’s like breaking the sound barrier; this step change proves solar has the potential to compete with the peak performance capabilities of fossil fuel sources,” he said.
“Instead of relying on burning fossil fuels to produce supercritical steam, this breakthrough demonstrates that the power-plants of the future could instead be using the free, zero emission energy of the sun to achieve the same result,” Wonhas said.
The Centre includes two solar thermal test plants featuring more than 600 mirrors (heliostats) directed at two towers housing solar receivers and turbines.
Supercritical solar steam is water pressurised at enormous force and heated using solar radiation.
Around 90 per cent of Australia’s electricity is generated using fossil fuel, but only a small number of power stations are based on the more advanced supercritical steam.
The world record, set in May this year, was at a pressure of 23.5 megapascals (a measure of force per unit area), and temperatures up to 570 degrees Celsius.
It is the combination of pressure and temperature demonstrated at scale that makes this such a breakthrough for solar power.
Commercial solar thermal power-plants around the world use subcritical steam, operating at similar temperatures but at lower pressure.
If these plants were able to move to supercritical steam, it would increase the efficiency and help to lower the cost of solar electricity.
Although there is still work to be done before this technology is ready for commercialisation, ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht acknowledged the significant achievement saying it demonstrates the importance of research and development.
“This breakthrough brings solar thermal energy a step closer to cost competitiveness with fossil fuel generated power,” said Frischknecht.
The research is supported by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and is part of a broader collaboration with Abengoa Solar, the largest supplier of solar thermal electricity in the world. (PTI)

WASHINGTON, June 10:  Strongly condemning the terrorist attack at the Karachi international airport, the US has offered assistance to Pakistan into investigating the incident.
“We have offered assistance to the relevant Pakistani authorities investigating this heinous crime,” a State Department spokesperson told. Both the White House and the State Department offered deepest condolences to the attack.
“The United States condemns the attack on the Karachi airport. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and those who were wounded in that attack,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, said yesterday.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of Sunday’s brazen attack on Karachis Jinnah International Airport. We wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery,” State Department Spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said.
“The United States condemns this brutal attack and stands steadfast in its commitment to the people of Pakistan in their efforts to counter terrorism and build a peaceful future. We support Pakistan’s efforts to bring all those involved in planning and executing this attack to justice,” she said in a statement.
The State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Harf, said the United States works very closely with the Pakistani Government on counterterrorism.
“There are a number of groups operating in – particularly in the cross-border area.  We’ve worked with them for many years, because of course, the Pakistani people themselves have been, as we just saw, tragically the victims of many of these terrorist attacks,” she said in response to a question.
The United States, she said, is concerned about different groups operating there, including the Pakistani Taliban. “But we do know the Pakistani Government has a responsibility and an obligation to protect its citizens and to take appropriate counter terrorism measures,” she said.
Refraining from making any comment on the airstrike being carried by the Pak Army against Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the tribal areas of Pakistan, Harf said it is for Islamabad to decide as to the kind of counter terrorism measures it wants to take against terrorists.
“I think that terrorist groups like the TTP should stop attacking innocent civilians. I think the Pakistani Government has a responsibility to protect their people and that there’s no equivalency between the two in any way,” she said.
“We’ve offered to the relevant Pakistani authorities, but more broadly speaking, we work very closely, as you know, with a host of folks in Pakistan on the counter terrorism threat.  Whether it’s military, intel, diplomatic, we have a very wide-ranging bilateral relationship on this issue specifically,” she said.
Harf said as the Pakistanis undertake counter terrorism operations, the US has worked with them, or at least advised them, to take civilian life into account.
“Innocent civilians are the targets of these terrorists.  The government’s job is to protect their people, so that’s what the Pakistani Government is doing.  They’re determining the best way to do that, period,” she said. (PTI)

LONDON, June 10:  Actress Kate Hudson is fed up of rumours that she has had plastic surgery.
Hudson, 35, who allegedly had breast implants and a nose job in 2010, said people should rather focus on how she treats people instead of how she looks, reported Contactmusic.
“That’s like asking someone if they see a therapist–and why? If someone wants to go get butt implants, then sure, go get butt implants. The real question is, How do they treat the person next to them?,” she said.
The blonde beauty isn’t a fan of the paparazzi or bloggers.
“I just look at the paparazzi and mentally cut their heads off. The negativity is just so vast. Will everybody stop being so damned judgmental?,” she added. (PTI)