Western Australia Minister for Energy Peter Collier

State Government supports Solar Flagships applications

Victor P Taffa

The Liberal-National Government has supported funding applications of eight Western Australian ventures which are vying to become National Flagship Solar Energy Projects.

Energy Minister Peter Collier said the applications for WA-based projects were among about 50 projects soon to be short-listed by the Commonwealth to a final list of up to eight under its Solar Flagships Program.

Funding would ultimately be granted to one Solar Thermal and one Photovoltaic (PV) Project, aiming for a combined capacity of about 400MW.

Mr Collier said that proponents had particularly focused on the Mid-West region, as well as Kalgoorlie and the Eastern Wheatbelt.

“WA’s outstanding solar resources, which are among the world’s best, coupled with the structure of our electricity market, have attracted some strong Solar Flagships bids from this State.” Mr. Collier said.

“I look forward to the outcomes of the short-listing process.”

Some of WA’s bids include:

• 250MW solar thermal power tower proposal near Geraldton from Bright Source Energy, Abigroup Contractors, Bilfinger Berger Services Australia and Worley Parsons;

•  200MW solar thermal compact linear Fresnel proposal for Perenjori from Mid West Energy Pty Ltd, involving AREVA, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Murdoch University;

•  Photovoltaic proposal from Conergy;

• 150MW solar thermal plant proposed for the Wheatbelt region between Perth and Kalgoorlie;

• Modular Heliosat / tower style solar plant incorporating heat storage by Perth-based Helio Power.