Australia’s Largest Solar Power Station Announced

Australia’s biggest solar power plant will be built in Canberra by 2014. International solar power company Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) will construct and operate the 20 megawatt facility, the ACT Government announced on Wednesday.

The generator will occupy about 50 hectares and comprise some 83,000 photovoltaic panels

“This is a landmark day for Big Solar in Australia”, said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council.

“Australia’s clean energy future has arrived in Canberra. Today’s announcement of 20 megawatts of Big Solar in the A.C.T. is a taste of what is to come. Solar is increasingly taking on coal-fired power on price.”

“Already household solar is reducing demand for power from the National Energy Market. Now it is also becoming increasingly cost competitive with polluting power at an industrial scale. The A.C.T. solar power station will be delivered at just 18.6 cents per kilowatt hour.”

“The A.C.T. Government’s reverse solar auction provides a model for all Australian Governments to quickly build large-scale solar power plants around the country.”

“The reverse solar auction is an innovative way of driving investment in Big Solar. It requires solar companies to demonstrate how they can deliver zero pollution, large-scale solar at least cost to taxpayers, and no funds are spent until power is actually generated.”

“The Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, has today reminded us there is no need for new baseload power stations to be built in the National Electricity Market for the next decade.”

“Big solar plants will increasingly meet Australia’s peak power energy needs, and today’s announcement by the A.C.T. Government is a window into Australia’s solar future.”

The Australian Solar Council congratulates FRV for winning the solar auction, and looks forward to watching Australia’s newest power plant being built over the next two years.”

“The Australian Solar Council also congratulates the A.C.T. Government for their national leadership in delivering Big Solar at low cost and at breakneck speed.”

About the Australian Solar Council (formerly Australian Solar Energy Society)

www.solar.org.au