AUSTRALIA should concentrate its clean energy funding on research, the federal independent MP Tony Windsor says, rather than controversial schemes such as ''pink batts or cash for clunkers''.

Mr Windsor, a member of the government's multi-party climate change committee, spent last week researching clean energy facilities and policy-making in Europe, including an inspection of Torresol Energy's 20 megawatt Gemasolar power station near Seville, Spain.

Ross Garnaut, Tony Windsor and Santiago Anas on the hunt for renewable energy solutions.

Gemasolar uses 2650 mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on to the top of a central ''power tower'' and heat salt to more than 500 degrees. The molten salts store heat that is slowly released to power a steam turbine, generating enough electricity for 25,000 households.

Last month, Gemasolar became the first solar thermal power station to supply electricity into the grid for 24 hours - including throughout the night - a key test for solar energy's ability to provide baseload power.