Australia Build Huge Solar Power Station
Australia is to build the world’s largest solar power station in the south-eastern state of Victoria. The 154MW scheme, would surpass Spains huge solar power station and would have nearly twice the capacity of the biggest existing solar power plant, in California’s Mojave desert. 112 curved mirrors that track the sun throughout the day, the technology has the capacity to multiply the power of the sun 500 times.
The Victoria project was conceived and planned by Australian company Solar Systems with $270m backing from Hong Kong-based CLP power generating group. The project, which is to be completed in 2013 would generate enough electricity to power 45,000 homes. The Australian federal government and the Victoria state government have given a total of A$125m in grants to the project. CLP’s investment will pay for the remainder of the construction costs, including a 2MW pilot plant. The power plant, would produce no emissions, saving an estimated 396,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year. This difference in output would also generate tradeable emissions credits that would meet renewable energy targets set by the federal government. Andrew Brandler, CLP’s chief executive, said: “There is tremendous opportunity to transfer this solar technology into the Asia Pacific region because it has the potential to cost-efficiently generate electricity at scale with no greenhouse gas emissions.” The news comes just as 'Tindo', the world's first solar-powered electric bus, carried its first commuters earlier this month in Adelaide, South Australia. Tindo, the Kaurna Aboriginal word for 'sun', is recharged using solar energy generated by a unique solar photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the new Adelaide Central Bus Station. Tindo is part of the Adelaide Connector Bus fleet that transports commuters, throughout the City and North Adelaide, free of charge. To return to the Solar Power Australia page. To return to our main solar energy home page
|
