Massive Solar Project Proposed

Australia will soon see the very first solar updraft tower in the country as a local company proposed a massive 200 MW project utilising the simple yet unique approach of generating electricity offered by the technology.

Unlike normal Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants the updraft tower does not use mirrors or photovoltaic panels to focus heat in a central place, the technology works by collecting heat through its sheet collectors and transfers it in a central tube that contains a generator. Using the principle that warm air rises, the heated air will then rise through the height of the tower which turns the generator that produces electricity. The updraft tower also has the potential of generating electricity at night because the system traps enough heat to continue propelling the generator providing additional base load electricity.

Although the solar updraft tower is more expensive to build than traditional CSP and solar PV farms, maintenance and operations are very minimal outweighing the initial cost of the project in the long run.

The updraft tower technology may be young in the country but Spain has proven its viability and has operated a similar prototype project for the past 7 years without flaws. If the project pursuits, it will be built in a 127,000 hectare land in Western Australia region near the city of Perth and is said to begin the 2 year construction by 2014.

The 200 MW solar updraft tower will give a massive boost in Australia solar power capacity in addition to the country’s solar flagship programs. The 150 MW Moree solar farm in the state of New South Wales which will be comprised of 650,000 solar panels and the The 250 MW Solar Dawn project which will utilise a natural gas hybrid and CSP technology. All three above projects are the largest of their kind and are expected to set the standards of large scale solar power applications in the country.

Apart from sequestering carbon and aiding the country in achieving its renewable energy goals, all three projects will also have a positive impact in the country’s economy employing thousands of workforce and during and even after construction for maintenance and operating purposes skyrocketing green related jobs.

Earlier this month news came out that the federal government will be establishing the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) after a plea from the GREENS leader senator Milne, according to her it is vital to establish the independent body as soon as possible for large scale solar power projects to thrive in the country and avoid politics from meddling with it.