South Australian Premier announces Solar thermal power plant for Port Augusta
Solar thermal power plant announced for Port Augusta ‘biggest of its kind in the world’, ABC, 15 August 17, A 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant has been secured for Port Augusta in South Australia, State Premier Jay Weatherill has announced.
Construction of the $650 million plant will start in 2018.
Concentrated Solar Power Simple Explanation
Aurora facts:
- 150-megawatt solar thermal power with eight hours of storage
- Plant will deliver 495 gigawatt hours of power annually, or 5 per cent of SA’s energy needs
- Equivalent to powering more than 90,000 homes
- Located 30 kilometres north of Port Augusta
- Company says it is “completely emission free”
Mr Weatherill said the Aurora Solar Energy Project would be ready to go in 2020 and would supply 100 per cent of the State Government’s needs.
The Government will pay a maximum of $78 per megawatt hour.
Mr Weatherill said the solar thermal plant was “the biggest of its kind in the world”.
“Importantly, this project will deliver more than 700 jobs, with requirements for local workers,” he said…….
A 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant has been secured for Port Augusta in South Australia, State Premier Jay Weatherill has announced.
Construction of the $650 million plant will start in 2018.
Mr Weatherill said the Aurora Solar Energy Project would be ready to go in 2020 and would supply 100 per cent of the State Government’s needs.
The Government will pay a maximum of $78 per megawatt hour.
Mr Weatherill said the solar thermal plant was “the biggest of its kind in the world”.
“Importantly, this project will deliver more than 700 jobs, with requirements for local workers,” he said.
Mirrors to direct sunlight onto tower
Solar thermal uses heliostats, or mirrors, to concentrate sunlight onto a tower that heats molten salt. The heat created is then used to generate steam.
Solar Reserve said the plant will be able to provide between eight and 10 hours of storage and had no requirement for gas or oil generated electricity as a backup.
It is expected to employ 50 full-time workers on an ongoing basis once it is operational.
The company said the power station will operate in a similar fashion to a coal or gas station, meaning many of the jobs would “require the same skill sets”.
Mr Smith said he looked forward to supporting “federal and state renewable energy targets”. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-14/solar-thermal-power-plant-announcement-for-port-augusta/8804628
Port Augusta local community welcome greenlighting of solar thermal power plant
Solar thermal power plant supporters and locals welcome greenlighting of Port Augusta project, ABC North and West , By Khama Reid 14 Aug 17 The Port Augusta community and its clean energy supporters have welcomed the news that the world’s largest solar thermal power station will be built in the region.
It was announced yesterday that US operator Solar Reserve would build the 150 megawatt power station known as the Aurora Solar Energy Project at Carriewerloo Station, about 330 kilometres north of Adelaide……
The Government and company attended a public meeting at Port Augusta where they were met with applause and cheering…..
Local Aboriginal leader Malcolm ‘Tiger’ McKenzie said he could see many opportunities in the project to boost employment for Aboriginal people.
“We’re 30 per cent of the population but we don’t participate in the workforce as much,” he said.
Mr McKenzie said he wanted to work with the Government and Solar Reserve to get the best employment outcomes.
“It’s a modern Australia now. We as Aboriginal people have got to maximise opportunities to live in this country and that’s having a job, having an education and contribute.”……
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-15/port-augusta-welcomes-solar-thermal-power-plant-announcement/8810394
16 August More REneweconomy news
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How solar tower and storage won on costsSolarReserve says its winning solar tower and molten salt storage project can deliver dispatchable, renewable power at just $78/MWh. Why so low?
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Senvion installs first prototype of 3.4M140 EBCSuccessful completion of optimised turbine for low wind sites.
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Younicos-designed WEMAG battery park successfully “black starts” grid on first attemptProject partners for Europe’s first commercial battery plant to bring innovative black start concept to market maturity/Younicos software manages reliable re-establishment of power grid.
Adelaide Advertiser (!) applauds decision for Port Augusta solar thermal power plant
The Advertiser Editorial, August 15, 2017: Solar plant can take heat off our power http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/the-advertiser-editorial-august-15-2017-solar-plant-can-take-heat-off-our-power/news-story/6387fb2661ae5f0795d675d893e22b7c?nk=ba26857f63080120cbd5fc74c94d3959-1502867091
16 August REneweconomy news
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Coal rift? Coalition sends mixed message on new coal powerFederal treasurer says cheap new coal power a “myth”, federal energy minister says it must be considered – even if the market disagrees.
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Tesla Tiny House goes on tourPowerwall, as part of the newly created Tesla Tiny House is hitting the road and making its way around Australia.
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CommBank to face new shareholder resolution after climate policy failMarket Forces will lodge a new shareholder resolution against Commonwealth Bank after its climate change position statement released today fell well short of its publicly-made 2 degree commitments.
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Victorian EV conversion company secures CEFC backingSEA Electric says $5m CEFC loan will help meet growing demand for technology that converts commercial trucks and vans to electric vehicles.
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Failed experiment: Now it’s retail arms gaming energy consumersFirst it was the networks, then generators. Now it’s the retail arms gouging consumers. A bipartisan review of Victoria’s retail electricity market reveals a failed experiment that has delivered the most inflated power bills in Australia.Mount Emerald Wind Farm reaches major construction milestoneConstruction at the $360 million Mount Emerald Wind Farm near Mareeba reached an important milestone last week when the first of 53 turbine foundations was put in place.First Solar Awarded 241MW module supply contract for edify energy solar projects in AustraliaCompany to deliver more than 500MW in Australia over the next 12 Months
Mount Emerald Wind Farm reaches major construction milestone
By Republic on 14 August 2017,Construction at the $360 million Mount Emerald Wind Farm near Mareeba reached an important milestone last week when the first of 53 turbine foundations was put in place.The 800-tonne foundation which is buried to ground level provides an immovable anchor for each turbine and consists of a 50-tonne reinforced steel cage filled with around 350m3 tonnes of concrete, or up to 70 truckloads.
Ratch Australia Corporation Executive General Manager Business Development, Mr Anthony Yeates, said the first foundation was always a special milestone in wind farm construction. Continue reading
Solar company to Deliver More Than 500MW in Australia over the Next 12 Months
First Solar Awarded 241MW module supply contract for edify energy solar projects in Australia http://reneweconomy.com.au/first-solar-awarded-241mw-module-supply-contract-edify-energy-solar-projects-australia-32835/ Company to Deliver More Than 500MW in Australia over the Next 12 Months
BRISBANE, Australia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 11, 2017– First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced it has been awarded a 241 megawatt (MW)DC module supply contract by RCR Tomlinson Ltd (ASX: RCR) as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for Edify Energy’s Daydream (180.7MWDc) and Hayman (60.2MWDC) solar projects in Queensland, Australia.
This contract takes First Solar’s delivery pipeline to over 500MW in the next 12 months, cementing it as the leading module supplier for large-scale solar in Australia.
Located across two sites north of Collinsville, the projects will utilize an optimized technology solution that includes single axis tracking technology from Array Technologies, Inc., and more than 2,026,565 First Solar advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules, to produce approximately 531,000 megawatt-hours of sustainable energy each year.
“First Solar’s unique energy yield advantage enables our solar projects in North Queensland to produce more energy per MW installed than other available PV technology,” said John Cole, Edify Energy’s Chief Executive. “This is of significant importance for asset owners and operators looking to maximize energy production.
The First Solar team has been very supportive and a key enabler of these projects.”
On completion, the projects will provide significant environmental benefits, producing enough sustainable energy to displace 429,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year combined.
This will serve the needs of approximately 73,000 average Queensland homes, the equivalent of taking approximately 115,000 cars off the road.
Construction on the projects is scheduled to commence in Q3 2017, with module delivery in Q4 2017 and Q1 2018.
12 August – more REneweconomy news
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It’s absurd. But consumers might be better off quitting the gridAs long as Australia’s energy networks hold on to their inflated asset base, and generators and retailers to their inflated profit margins, consumers will have no choice but to take matters into their own hands with solar and battery storage. But what a hopeless failure in public policy that would be.
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EOI open for NQ Clean Energy HubA key part of the $386 million Powering North Queensland Plan will commence today.
12 August REneweconomy news
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Australia’s biggest wind farm is also its least productiveWhat’s wrong with Australia’s biggest wind farm? Victoria’s 420MW Macarthur facility was supposed to produce 50% more power than it did last year.
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Another solar farm planned for Collinsville, as Blackrock buys inNew 50MW Hayman solar farm to go merchant, as US investor BlackRock makes first big move into renewables with two solar farm investments.
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Australia’s first battery “giga-factory” set for development in DarwinAustralian company Energy Renaissance says it has “sealed deal” with NT government, locking in Darwin as preferred site for 1GWh lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant.
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New rules for retailers, but don’t sit there waiting for your electricity bill to go downA call to retailers; Information about discounts will be simpler, but you’ll still have to do the legwork to shop around.
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Scientists develop spit-powered batteryYou can make a battery out of a lemon, a tomato, an orange or a stack of pennies. And now you can make a battery using spit.
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RCR awarded $315M for Daydream and Hayman solar farm projectsRCR Tomlinson Ltd is pleased to announce that it has been awarded two contracts for the 150MWac Daydream Solar Farm and the 50MWac Hayman Solar Farm, developed and maintained by Edify Energy Pty Ltd.
Solar power, wind power, storage – to replace Liddell coal plant
Liddell coal plant to be replaced by solar, wind, storage http://reneweconomy.com.au/liddell-coal-plant-to-be-replaced-by-solar-wind-storage-64157/
“We just don’t see the development of a new coal-fired power plant as economically rational, even before carbon costs,” AGL Energy CEO Andy Vesey told analysts and journalists at a briefing on Thursday, to mark the release of its annual profit results.
And nor would the company consider extending the life of existing coal-fired generators, such as the Liddell plant in the NSW Hunter Valley, which is scheduled to close in 2022.
AGL made a point in its presentation that the most economic option to replace the 2000MW Liddell would not be coal, or baseload gas, but a mix of energy from wind and solar, and various load shaping and firming capacity from other sources.
Already, the 200MW Silverton wind farm is under construction near Broken Hill, and the 465MW Coopers Gap wind farm in Queensland is expected to begin construction soon. Vesey said this would provide “clean reliable energy” for the grid.
AGL also reproduced its estimates of the current cost of wind and solar PV. Both renewable energy technologies delivered energy at a lower cost than brown or black coal, and were still competitive even after adding “firming costs”.
These estimates do not include carbon risk, and the only thing stopping increased investment in those technologies was the lack of policy certainty, Vesey said.
“The challenge is that we are at a point where the lack of certainty around carbon policy is preventing people from investing in the right options, which we think is wind, solar, and storage,” he said. Asked if the company would extend Liddell, built in 1973, particularly given the windfall earnings from the ageing and fully depreciated coal plants in its portfolio given the high wholesale prices, Vesey said no.
Even without factoring in the carbon risk, it would require significant investment in an asset that would be less reliable and have higher cost than other possibilities, such as renewables.
Indeed, Liddell only operated at a capacity factor of 50 per cent in the last financial year, barely above the best performing wind farms.
Notably, half of its capacity was not available during the supply crunch of the NSW heat wave, when wind and solar saved the day after the state’s two biggest gas generators also crashed.
The Bayswater plant operated at 64 per cent capacity, while Loy Yang A operated at around 75 per cent.
Energy executives tell Turnbull they aren’t interested in prolonging life of coal plants
Executives also tell prime minister that policy uncertainty is contributing to rise in power prices, Katherine Murphy, Guardian, 9 Aug 17 Senior energy executives have taken the opportunity of a face-to-face meeting with Malcolm Turnbull to argue policy certainty is required to help lower power prices for consumers – and to signal they are not interested in prolonging the life of coal plants……..
The message the executives delivered to the top echelons of the government was the country needed policy action that would lower or stabilise wholesale electricity prices, not just a focus on retail prices.
After the talks, the prime minister was asked whether he would deliver a full response to the Finkel review by the end of the year.
Turnbull hedged, saying the government was waiting on additional information from the Australian Energy Market Operator about the amount of dispatchable power required to stabilise the grid after the departure of major coal plants which are coming to the end of their operating life.
He said the government would receive that information on 1 September…….
The government will hold another meeting with the same group of executives on 18 August to hear progress.
A report released by the Grattan Institute five months ago highlighted the problems addressed in Wednesday’s meeting.
The Grattan report pointed out that consumers struggle to find better deals to reduce their power bills because they find the market too complicated. It also argued that, if energy retailers failed to clean up their act, political pressure would increase for price regulation given the rapid escalation in energy costs.
On Tuesday night, the Greens called for price regulation by the end of 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/09/energy-chiefs-tell-turnbull-they-arent-interested-in-prolonging-life-of-coal-plants
11 August More REneweconomy news
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Turnbull “eyeballs” energy bosses, kids himself on solutionBig energy retailers didn’t so much blink, as wink in face of Turnbull’s “eyeballing” episode. Here’s why they will be high fiving each other in the Qantas lounge at Canberra airport.
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Turnbull has failed to axe Australia’s power price “laziness” taxThe PM only had to push energy reforms slightly further to make a world of difference, and protect consumers from the “laziness tax” exploited by utilities.
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Energy storage start-up targets Australia, promises compressed air technology “half the cost” of batteriesCanadian start-up claims it can deliver lowest installed cost per kWh for bulk energy storage with compressed air technology.
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SA power-to-gas pilot to trial long-term renewable storage optionARENA-backed project to test whether excess solar and wind can be used to produce cheap hydrogen, and as a long-term energy storage option.
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Australia’s biggest solar retailer forced to replace non-compliant panelsEuro Solar forced to surrender STCs or replace PV modules after being found to have installed non-compliant solar panels, as part of a Clean Energy Regulator crackdown on Australia’s rooftop solar industry.Origin signs PPA for new 150MW solar farm in north QueenslandOrigin signs 13-year PPA for output of edify Energy’s 150MW Daydream Solar Farm in Queensland – one of the state’s biggest.
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AGL says solar, wind, storage cheapest way to replace coalAGL says new coal plants not economically rational; facilities like Liddell will be replaced by wind, solar, batteries, pumped hydro and other firming capacity.
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AEMO set to trial wind farm’s ability to stabilise S.A. gridARENA, AEMO trial testing 100MW Hornsdale 2 wind farm capability to supply grid stabilising services to NEM slated for October.
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Tesla adds Brisbane store and service centre – its first in QueenslandUS EV and battery maker opens new retail store at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, with show room, service centre and four EV super-charging bays.
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AGL cashes in on coal splurge, renewable investment droughtAGL’s multi-billion investment in coal generators, and the recent investment drought in new wind and solar plants, have delivered windfall gains to the country’s biggest generator. It also increased its margins from consumers, despite its offer of discounts.
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11 August REneweconomy news
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Regulator: It’s OK to charge customers more for energyIPART submission to energy price inquiry appears to suggest it’s OK to exploit consumers if they don’t have time or knowledge to search for discounts.
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Fund manager bankrolls 19MW solar farm in north-west VictoriaImpact Investment Group has underwritten construction of a $32 million, 19MW solar farm in Victoria’s north-west.
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Kerry Schott, Clare Savage named to Energy Security BoardDr Kerry Schott AO as Independent Chair and Clare Savage as Deputy Chair of the Energy Security Board.
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EnergyAustralia pays dearly for gas, consumers pay moreEnergyAustralia says profits fell as it got hit by having to buy gas, but it was offset by increased gains from its retail business as consumer bills surged.
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Impact Investment Group funds new solar farm in regional VictoriaImpact Investment Group will fund the construction and operation of a new 19MW solar farm in Swan Hill, Victoria.
9 August REneweconomy news
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Making the energy transition more equitable and inclusiveThe transition to a clean, affordable and equitable supply of energy is finely on the agenda in Australia, compounded by soaring electricity prices and the mostly favourable response to the Finkel review.
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SA’s energy policy: five steps forward, two steps backSouth Australia’s energy security target could increase electricity prices while providing an incentive for power companies to pump out more carbon emissions.
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Queenslanders blame something they don’t have – renewables – for rising energy billsQueenslanders apparently blame renewables for price rises, even though they have any. But don’t get between a poll and a Murdoch campaign.
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Poles and wires: Consumers using less, paying moreMalcolm Turnbull should have a word with network owners and regulators this week, as well as the gentailers. Network charges per unit of electricity have more than doubled.
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Tesla, Zen, Lyon slam S.A. energy security target as industrial “relic”Tesla, Zen, Lyon and others slam South Australia’s proposed energy security target, saying it lacks technical expertise and will deliver windfall profits to incumbent gas generators, and not encourage new technologies like battery storage.
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Know your NEM: The profits CLP didn’t make from Australian brown coalThe interesting takeaway from EnergyAustralia’s interim results, and other news from the NEM week that was.
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Tesla says favouring gas akin to choosing paper records over digital filesTesla says battery storage can deliver many grid services provided by gas generators, and thinking otherwise is like supporting paper records over digital files.
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Tesla seeks $1.5bn bond offering while shifting solar strategyTesla is emphasising profitability from its solar business, which has undergone significant transformation since the company bought SolarCity.Tesla Powerpack battery added to wind turbine at NZ salt factoryIn “Australasian first”, 250kW Tesla Powerpack added to 660kw wind turbine, to provide 75 per cent of energy for NZ salt manufacturer.
Across Australia, rooftop solar continues its record year
Rooftop solar continues record year, even as STC price fall kicks in http://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-continues-record-year-even-stc-price-fall-kicks-11833/ By Sophie Vorrath on 7 August 2017, One Step Off The Grid
Another 93MW of solar PV was installed on Australian homes and business in the month of July, as booming markets in every state continue to deliver the nation’s best year to date, with a total of 568MW installed so far in 2017.
In its latest monthly market update, solar analysts Sunwiz said the solar PV market had maintained the record-breaking momentum of the previous two months, painting a picture of “a market that is level – at exceptionally high levels.”
According to Sunwiz, this July marked the second highest ever for registrations in that month, maintaining the record solar tally for any year to date that has put the market 47 per cent ahead of the same time last year.
The report notes that part of the reason for this sustained PV market momentum is that every state is doing so well at the same time, not least Western Australia, which is having its best ever start to the year.
Of course, one significant down-side to the booming installation market has been the sudden drop in small-scale renewable energy certificate (STC) prices – which, as we reported here, caught many PV installers off-guard and pushed up the cost of installing solar by around 10 per cent for households and small business.
According to Sunwiz, STC prices – which last month fell from around $40 to as low as $26 – are likely to keep falling as long as the STC creation rate continues to exceed the target, “something we feel is very likely to happen,” it says.
“So expect a soft STC price that will only turn north in early 2018.”
Elsewhere, the report notes that commercial solar systems of larger than 10kW notched up record high monthly and tri-monthly figures, with 33 per cent of volume in June down to commercial installations.
In July the proportion of commercial fell slightly to 31 per cent, as the volume in the 6-10kW range expanded to 20 per cent of the market.
NSW again led the pack on commercial installs, although it was briefly overtaken by Victoria and then Queensland, “but rounded out July on top again” after Victoria stalled and then Queensland fell, the report says.
In the residential market, average rooftop solar system sizes remained steady at and average of 6.5kW, sustaining a new record.
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
15 April – Zoom –Nuclear Power is Not the Solution
Apr 15, 2026 01:00 AM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) on Tuesday, April 14th for a timely webinar exploring the risks associated with nuclear power and challenging the myth that it offers a simple, safe, carbon-free solution to the climate crisis
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 