Australia building biggest solar power station in the world

A Melbourne, Australia-based company called Solar Systems has received government funding to proceed with construction of a 154-megawatt solar power station in Victoria, the southern-most state on the mainland. The Australian government will contribute $75 million and the government of Victoria will contribute $50 million toward this $420-million (Australian dollar) project, the company said.

The power station will use high performance photovoltaic (PV) solar cells originally developed to power satellites.

The power station will use technology known as ‘Heliostat Concentrator Photovoltaic’ (HCPV). It will consist of fields of heliostats (sun-tracking mirrors) focusing sunlight on receivers forty meters in the air. The receivers house photovoltaic (PV) modules, which consist of arrays of ultra high-efficiency solar cells that convert the sunlight directly into electricity. The heliostat control system, PV modules and cooling system are patented by Solar Systems.

Solar Systems has collaborated with US company Spectrolab (a Boeing company) to optimise ultra high efficiency space technology for earth based power stations. The resulting photovoltaic cell arrays are three times more efficient than typical solar panels. Further cell efficiency improvements are underway.

The Victorian power station will generate clean electricity directly from the sun to meet the annual needs of over 45,000 homes with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Australian Treasurer Peter Costello announced a $75 million grant to the project under the Federal Government’s Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF). Solar Systems was one of more than 30 companies that bid for $500 million under the LETDF program, which aims to foster competitive technology that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Victorian Premier Steve Bracks announced that the Victorian Government will also support the project with a grant of $50 million.

The station will be built in north-west Victoria. Solar Systems will build the power station across a number of different sites and will consult with local Government and communities about appropriate locations. Solar Systems has formed a new company – Solar Systems Generation Pty Ltd to construct the station.

Solar Systems’ Managing Director Dave Holland said the company has invested over $50 million since it began developing the technology 16 years ago.

"This plant is the first step in a strategic plan to roll out large-scale solar technology across Australia and internationally. It represents the beginning of a new international industry," Holland said. "This funding announcement significantly advances the company’s technology commercialisation process that has already seen four smaller solar power stations established in central Australia."

The project is expected to create approximately 950 new jobs at the peak of construction and be a catalyst for a new industry that will create more than 10,000 permanent jobs.

Two new manufacturing facilities will be constructed in Victoria and key suppliers are expected to invest in expansion to meet the project demand. Approximately 70 per cent of the total project cost is expected be invested in Victoria.

Solar Systems’ Technical Director John Lasich has led the development of this technology to meet his vision for affordable, clean energy from the sun since the 1970s.

"This is a new generation of solar technology," Lasich said. "The secret is to be able to make a solar power module work about 1500 times harder than typical solar panels. If you can do this at high efficiency using low cost materials, you have the recipe for an infinite supply of clean energy at an affordable price.

"This new power station will demonstrate these principles and produce the most affordable solar energy yet generated."

For more information:

www.solarsystems.com.au

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