The future is looking bright for large-scale solar projects in Australia thanks to government support for the 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is a Federal Government agency designed to provide funding for some of the most promising new sources of clean energy.
Speaking at the Cleantech Innovations Forum in Geelong early this month the Clean Energy Council’s Chief Executive, David Green, said the increase of new clean energy technologies was due to support from state and federal governments.
“It’s excellent to see major projects securing funding and approvals over the last month and inevitably energising the future of green technology in Australia,” Mr Green said.
According to Mr Green, ARENA has helped kick-start a number of large-scale solar projects across Australia.
“Projects like that designed by AGL and First Solar at Nyngan and Broken Hill, the Royalla Solar Farm and Moree Solar Farm by FRV (Fotowatio Renewable Ventures), and Pacific Hydro in northern NSW will be much larger than any solar projects previously seen in this country.”
At present the largest solar project underway in Australia is a 10 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) at Greenough River.
The project is a joint venture between GE, First Solar and Verve Energy with the solar thermal facility being built by Areva and Macquarie Generation.
“Once these first large-scale solar projects are built, we will start to see the cost of the technology come down and become more competitive,” Mr Green said.
“Continued bipartisan support for ARENA and the Renewable Energy Target, along with better use of demand management, will help to transform Australia towards a cleaner, smarter and more consumer-focused energy system.”
