- Solar power station in Victoria
A large new solar power station in Victoria is planned. Solar Systems is to build the world’s most advanced [ [http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article613720.ece Australia advances with solar power] "The Times", 26 October 2006.]
photovoltaic (PV)heliostat solar concentrator power station in north-western Victoria, Australia. The 154megawatt (MW), A$420 million, project will generate 270,000 MWh per year, enough for more than 45,000 homes. It will reducegreenhouse gas emissions by approximately 400,000 tonnes per year. It will also aid in reducing salinity and create jobs during manufacture, construction and operation. [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/projects.html Solar systems projects] ] Full commissioning is expected in 2013, with the first stage to be completed in 2010. [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/HCPV_Technology.html Solar systems facts sheet -- The technology] ]Technical details
The "CS500" dish concentrator PV unit design has 114 [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/faqs.html Solar Systems - FAQs] ] curved reflecting mirrors, which track the sun throughout the day. The combination of mirror profile, mounting framework and solar receiver will deliver concentrated solar energy to each PV module. The tracking mechanism allows electricity to be produced during the day whenever the sun is more than 5° above the horizon. Direct current electricity from the receivers is passed through an electronic inverter that produces grid-quality alternating current. Transformers step up the voltage to the requirement of the local network at the point of connection. Advantages claimed for this design include: [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/HCPV_Technology.html Solar systems facts sheet -- The technology] ]
*"The CS500 dish has a longer effective operating life than traditional PV. Because the receiver is only a small area of PV (a 35kW CS500 dish has a PV area of 0.23m² where as 35kW of traditional flat plate would use approximately 350m²) maintenance is simple, quick and affordable. The modules include a specially designed filter that removes harmful UV radiation that reduces the operating efficiency and life of traditional PV technology. The modules are also cooled which increases their effective operating life and their efficiency".
*"The CS500 dish costs significantly less (per installed watt) than traditional PV technology. This is despite the fact that the CS500 is new and still near the top of its cost curve. Advances in technology, maturity and volume production will further increase the gap".
*"The CS500 produces more electricity (per installed watt) than fixed flatplate PV technology - by up to 30%. This is because it tracks the sun and operates at lower temperatures". [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/the_technology.html Solar systems -- The technology] ]Previous projects
The commercialisation of this technology has already seen four smaller solar power stations established in central Australia, with support from the
Australian Greenhouse Office . [ [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/documents/SolarSystemsAP6MediaRelease-011106.pdf World-leading Australian solar technology for export under AP6] ]See also
*
Photovoltaics
*Solar power
*Solar power in Australia
*Solar Systems (company)
*Solar power plants in Central Australia References
External links
* [http://www.solarsystems.com.au/the_technology.html Solar Systems home page]
* [http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/242 Australia building biggest solar power station in the world]
* [http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/800 World's biggest solar plant for Australia]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/national/brumby-planning-to-plug-victoria-into-the-sun-20080616-2rny.html?page=-1 Brumby planning to plug Victoria into the sun]
* [http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/57057af37c6436bdca2573fa00755db6!OpenDocument Construction to start in 2009 on world's largest solar power station]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
