VIDEO: World’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant to Be Built in South Australia

World's biggest solar thermal plant to be built in Australia

17 Aug 2017

Amit Katwala

A SolarReserve facility in the United States (Credit: SolarReserve)

Construction on the world’s biggest solar thermal power station, capable of generating 150 megawatts of electricity, will start in South Australia in 2018.

US company SolarReserve has signed a long-term agreement with the Australian government to build the power station near the town of Port Augusta, 300km north of Adelaide.

The Aurora Solar Energy Project will use tracking mirrors called heliostats to focus the sun’s rays and heat molten salt, which will create steam and power a turbine to generate electricity. Molten salt will also be used for storing energy, with 1100MWh of power set to be available on demand.

The plant is expected to be up and running by 2020, and will create 650 jobs during construction, with 50 full-time positions available once it’s up and running.

“The Port Augusta story is a stark example of the transition of the South Australian economy, with the closure of a dirty coal fired power station, and now the commissioning of this world leading renewable energy project,” said South Australia’s Premier Jay Weatherill.

“SolarReserve’s energy storage technology is an excellent fit for the South Australian electricity system”, said SolarReserve’s CEO Kevin Smith. “Aurora will provide much needed capacity and firm energy delivery into the South Australian market to reduce price volatility."

https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/world%27s-biggest-solar-thermal-plant-to-be-built-in-australia

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