Australia to have largest solar power station

Victoria is set to have the largest solar power station in Australia with the Victorian Government committing $100 million to a new large-scale solar development in the State’s north-west. 

In Mildura, Mr Brumby announced that the Victorian Government would back a bid by energy company TRUenergy to develop a major new solar plant south of Mildura with $100 million for renewable energy generated. 

Mr Brumby said TRUenergy’s proposal to build the Mallee Solar Park would create 200 new jobs in construction and 20 ongoing jobs, deliver 345 gigawatt hours of clean electricity each year and generate enough power to run 60,000 homes each year. 

“Together with Victorians, we are rising to the challenge of climate change by driving new initiatives to cut emissions and create a cleaner, greener future for Victorian families,” Mr Brumby said. 

“Our Government’s disciplined economic management means Victoria is in a position to tackle climate change by backing new investments in renewable energy to lock-in a sustainable future. 

“This investment is about capitalising on Victoria’s potential to generate renewable energy and forms a key part of our commitment to increase Victoria’s electricity supply from large-scale solar power to five per cent by 2020. 

“The TRUenergy proposal will utilise world’s best-practice to create jobs in regional Victoria, cement the northern part of our State as a key solar energy region in Australia and will make a valuable and lasting contribution to our clean, green energy supply.” 

The Government set aside $100 million in funding to support a large-scale solar development last year and it forms a part of its Climate Change White Paper Action Plan, released in July. 

Under the TRUenergy’s proposal a photovoltaic plant will be built on a 600 hectare site about 10 kilometres south of Mildura with construction to be undertaken by Bovis Lend Lease in four stages between 2012 and 2015.

“TRUenergy’s project is a great example of the significant jobs and investment expected across regional Victoria as a result of our White Paper which will drive new investment of between $6 and $10 billion,” Mr Brumby said. 

“Through our Climate Change White Paper Action Plan we have committed to making Victoria Australia’s solar state and aim to support the development of five to 10 large scale solar plants in regional Victoria by 2020. 

“Under the Action Plan our Government has also committed to cut emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 and increase the state’s power generated by solar to five per cent.” 

Minister for Energy and Resources Peter Batchelor said TRUenergy’s proposal was selected through an independent tender from a strong field of five applicants after it submitted an outstanding proposal under the Victorian Large Scale Solar Project. 

“This project will use the latest in solar photovoltaic technology, utilising flat-plate, thin film photovoltaic panels which will be made by First Solar, a US based company,” Mr Batchelor said. 

“It will build on Silex’s large-scale demonstration photovoltaic solar project planned for near Mildura which is being supported by a $50 million Brumby Labor Government grant.” 

Mr Batchelor said with $100 million from the Victorian Government, the project proponents would become a stand-out applicant for Solar Flagships funding from the Gillard Government. 

“We have backed this proposal because it has all the right characteristics to deliver major benefits to for communities, for the environment and for a cleaner, greener economy,” he said. 

“We believe it is now a stand-out for funding from the Commonwealth’s Solar Flagship Program.”

Posted in: green technology