Solar's turn to shine

Courier Mail
Tuesday 19/8/2008 Page: 60

DAVID Mills wants Queensland's resources sector to have its day in the sun. The Australian solar energy pioneer is keen to build the country's first large-scale solar thermal power plant using technology his California-based company, Ausra, has developed. "The technology is really ready to go and were hoping we can actually get grants to do some big things in Queensland," he says.

"We're talking to mining companies about how we can create a system around the technology, which will probably change the way they mine minerals. Maybe there will be an emphasis on more mining during the day and less at night." Apart from that, Dr Mills says the plant process is fairly straightforward and has the added advantage of being able to function even when the sun goes down.

"What we are increasingly moving to is thermal storage, which allows 24-hour power," he says. "Our technology is best in the desert and fairly arid regions... but its quite possible for modern technology to transfer the power from say the southwest of the US to the northeast now with less than 10 per cent loss." Dr Mills, who developed the technology in Australia, but was forced to relocate to the US to find funding, believes the move away from coal has swung into high gear.

But despite being one of the better funded start-ups in the US Ausra recently secured a further $US24.5 million ($A28 million) from two Californian firms bringing their total investment to $100 million he says its still an uneven playing field for clean energy companies. "Special measures by the Government to assist the technology just to get off the ground are needed," he says.

But Ausra is not the only solar project competing for funding in Australia. Engineering giant WorleyParsons recently announced plans to build up to 34 solar plants using parabolic troughs by 2020. The first plant scheduled for Australia is likely to be located in the Pilbara and with a capacity of 250 megawatts will be one of the world's largest.

A consortium of companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Forteseue Metals, Woodside Petroleum and Picture: Nathan Richter Wesfarmers, have joined WorleyParsons in the feasibility study, but they are unlikely to partner up in a venture to build the infrastructure, according to WorleyParsons renewable energy expert Peter Meurs.

While parabolic troughs have been around for decades and are already operated by a variety of companies overseas, Climate Positive solar energy expert Matthew Wright says Ausra's technology and more basic design will yield significant cost savings. WorleyParsons says that to improve its chances of attracting capital, it has chosen to pay a premium for a model its bankers will perceive as less risky because it is already viable.