The Port Augusta community and its clean energy supporters have welcomed the news that the world’s largest solar thermal power station will be built in the region.
It was announced yesterday that US operator Solar Reserve would build the 150 megawatt power station known as the Aurora Solar Energy Project at Carriewerloo Station, about 330 kilometres north of Adelaide.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said the project would be on-line in 2020 and would supply 100 per cent of the State Government’s needs. The land is owned by the State Government but Scott Michael and his family have the pastoral lease on it. Solar Reserve will, in turn, lease the land from them.
Mr Michael said he missed the initial announcement that the project was going ahead.
“My phone was flat [Monday] and I had a fairly sort of busy afternoon. I got a phone call from Solar Reserve about 7:00pm,” he said.
“Before that I had seen it over the news and Facebook, but having a flat phone and a few jobs I hadn’t had a chance to sit down and acknowledge it.”
He said he had been talking to Solar Reserve for two years about the project and the company has had solar measuring equipment on the property since December.
Mr Michael said it would not interrupt the property’s current business of running sheep and cattle.
He said there are lots of renewable projects proposed for the region.
Source: ABC News
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