Sun town planning its switch to solar

Australian
Monday 5/11/2007 Page: 10

CLONCURRY in northwest Queensland will become the state's first town to be powered entirely by solar energy. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the town would be the site for a $7 million, 10 megawatt solar thermal power station. 'It's a real breakthrough for energy generation," said Ms Bligh, who visited the town for her first community cabinet meeting as Premier.

The technology we're going to use in Cloncurry will ensure the power station keeps generating electricity even when the sun is not shining." Luckily, a lack of sunlight is not a problem that faces Cloncurry about 800km west of Townsville Ms Bligh said yesterday. "The town of Cloncurry has long claimed the title of having recorded Australia's hottest day 53 degrees in the shade in 1889, so I reckon we're on a winner," she said.

The solar thermal power station will be built and running by the summer of 2009. A similar, although much larger, solar power station will be built near Mildura in northern Victoria in a project jointly funded by the Victorian and federal governments. Plans for the plant, which will be one of the world's largest, were announced last year and the station is expected to be fully operational by 2013.

The $420 million "super plant" will aim to provide green energy to 45,000 homes and will create 1000 jobs. At the Cloncurry plant, 8000 mirrors will be erected to reflect sunlight on to graphite blocks. Water will then be pumped through the graphite to create steam, used to power a conventional steam turbine electricity generator. The graphite is designed to remain hot even during the night or in overcast weather. Ms Bligh said this would ensure Cloncurry would have "continuous 24-hour electricity."

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said the power station would provide enough energy about 30 million kilowatt hours each year to power the entire community. It will cut greenhouse gas emissions with clean energy powered by the sun, and it will save money in the long term with less money being spent on upgrades to the local network," he said.

Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara said renewable energy sources, such as solar power, would be vital to meet the challenges of climate change. One thing Australia has more of than any other country is sunshine, and the tremendous potential for solar energy hasn't begun to be tapped yet," Mr McNamara said. Ergon Energy will develop the $7 million project.