A groundbreaking clean energy project is underway in Australia, aiming to reshape how industries generate heat and slash emissions in the process.
The University of South Australia (UniSA), Impacts Renewable Energy, and Charles Sturt University (CSU) have teamed up to build the world’s first cost-effective concentrated solar thermal (CST) demonstrator using lightweight plastic mirrors. Funded by the federal government’s Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program, the project offers a practical, scalable solution for industrial sectors heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
It’s also a simple and cheap solution. The system uses thermoformed plastic mirrors with reflective coatings to concentrate sunlight and produce heat at temperatures ranging from 100 °C (212 °F) to 400 °C (752 °F). That heat can be applied directly in industrial processes or used to generate steam for electricity. Unlike traditional solar thermal systems that rely on fragile, heavy glass mirrors, this new setup is lightweight, flat-packable, and easy to transport, making it ideal for remote or temporary industrial sites.
Two full-scale demonstrator modules, each with 16 mirrored panels, will be installed and tested at CSU’s “Vineyard of the Future.” The reflective coating, a multilayer aluminum-silica finish developed by UniSA, ensures high solar reflectivity and weather resistance.
Industrial heat is a big problem. It accounts for about 25% of global energy use and 20% of CO₂ emissions, and most renewable energy technologies can’t handle the high temperatures these sectors require. This plastic-based CST platform fills that gap, with potential applications in food processing, mining, solar desalination, and water treatment.
The project is already attracting attention from international and domestic partners, with a larger commercial pilot planned as the second phase under the AEA Innovate program.
According to the team, this system could reduce the cost of renewable process heat by up to 40%. It’s also tailored for Australia’s hot, dry climate, offering strong export potential.
This isn’t just a prototype. It’s a serious contender for decarbonizing Australia’s industrial heat sector — and a powerful step toward a zero-emissions future.
Image & Article source by University of South Australia
