Feasibility study to be conducted in Australia for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) hybrid plants

ARENA, Alinta agree funds for Port Augusta Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) study.

ARENA announced on Wednesday it would contribute $1million to the study, with $1.2 million to come from Alinta and a further $123,000 from the state government.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has finally come to an agreement with the privately-owned Alinta to co-fund a feasibility study into a solar thermal power station to augment or replace the existing coal fired generators in the South Australian township of Port Augusta.

However, the study would not conclude until 2016, which may dash hopes for an earlier start to the project and a near-term replacement for the ageing Playford and Northern coal-fired power stations. Alinta recently said it wanted to extend the life of its two coal fired power stations for another two decades.

Solar thermal, including with molten salt storage, is emerging as an exciting new renewable energy option. Abengoa this year AlintaARENAAustraliaconcentrated solar powerConcentrated Solar Thermal PowerConcentrating Solar PowerCSPsolar energySolar Power