Australian Solar Thermal Power Innovation Project an Example of Private Investment Leveraged by Australian Renewable Energy Agency
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- Created on Tuesday, 20 May 2014 08:15
VAST SOLAR | MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 20 May 2014
Australian solar thermal power innovation company Vast Solar (www.vastsolar.com) announced today it had commenced construction of a 6MWth (1.1MWe) concentrating solar thermal (CST) power pilot plant near Forbes, New South Wales.
The project, which will demonstrate Vast Solar’s low cost, high efficiency CST generation system, is funded by majority private investment with significant support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The first-of-kind project, which includes 3 hours’ thermal storage that will enable the plant to generate electricity day or night on demand, is expected to be operating to supply electricity into the National Energy Market by the end of the year.
Vast Solar’s CEO Andrew Want today said that when completed the Jemalong Solar Thermal Station would be the only standalone solar thermal power plant with thermal energy storage generating power to the grid in Australia.
“Concentrating solar thermal (CST) power is important for Australia and for many sunny regions around the world,” Mr Want said.