Butcher,There are a few working SolarThermal, mostly in the...

Butcher,

There are a few working SolarThermal, mostly in the states (Arizona, 2 Nth Calif) (but don't forget our very own dish CSIRO (I think) site in central Aust.

Costs are really uncertain, but capex is north of the figures I cite. The Arizona site spends a fortune getting dust off the reflectors.

Thin film solar at $1/w ($1M/Mw) would be much more competitive - really good candidate for infill solar (your house roof panel would cost $1000 and pay itself off in 2 or 3 years without a buyback tariff distortion).

Agree absolutely that coal needs to be fully costed, but I am not convinced that CCS would eliminate it from the cost stack.

There is a project in Kingston Sth Aust (Strike Oil / Horizon Energy) planning to pilot a 150MW 100 CCS plant, using the edge of the Otway basin as a sink and Strike Oil drilling know how.

One to watch - no, I own no stock.

By the way, on reflection, my post to MrJ was very poorly worded. Pls accept apols.