Australia’s Solar Flagship Programs Underway

Australia is known for its historical places and untouched natural reserves like the outback and a whole bunch of other tourist spots. But soon enough the country will be known for something else.

True that the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions cannot be denied, and as part of the large scale solar applications the country has tabled two of its solar flagship programs which is largest of its kind worldwide.

The country has allotted about $1.5 billion to construct the solar dawn project and the Moree solar PV farm. The two is expected to add 400 MW of clean and renewable energy to the current mark of 540 MW (Australia’s current solar capacity as of 2010).

The Moree solar farm will be largest of its kind utilising photovoltaic technology; the project is expected to generate 150 MW of clean energy. Construction will take place in the state of New South Wales flanking the town of Moree by 2012 and when completed the solar farm will be comprised of 650,000 solar panels and will deliver new job opportunities during construction and eventually lift the local economy.

Paired with the Moree solar farm is the solar dawn project which will take footing in Queensland. The 250 MW project is a natural gas hybrid combined with CSP technology. Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems or concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems are systems that use mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a small area. Electricity is produced when the concentrated light is converted to heat which drives the steam turbine connected to an electrical power generator.

The technology works by producing electricity with CSP with natural gas powered boilers as auxiliary steam source when needed and during at night to provide continued source of energy.

Both projects are expected to put the country in the top renewable energy producers and to reduce carbon emission significantly.