Mildura Solar Concentrator Power Station

The Mildura Solar Concentrator Power Station is a proposed photovoltaic (PV) heliostat solar concentrator power station is to be built at Carwarp, near Mildura, Victoria, Australia.[1]

The provisional timeline[1] for the project is:

The project was proposed by Solar Systems.[2] The 154 MW (30.8 net), A$420 million, project will generate 270,000 MWh per year, enough for more than 45,000 homes. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 400,000 tonnes per year, and will also aid in reducing salinity and create jobs during manufacture, construction and operation.[3] Full commissioning was expected in 2013, with the first stage to be completed in 2010.[4]

Solar Systems Pty Ltd was acquired by Silex Systems in early 2010 and the project has been restarted.

Contents

Technical details

The "CS500" dish concentrator PV unit design has 112[5] curved reflecting mirrors, which track the sun throughout the day. The combination of mirror profile, mounting framework, and solar receiver will deliver concentrated solar energy to each PV module. The tracking mechanism allows electricity to be produced during the day whenever the sun is more than 5° above the horizon. Direct current electricity from the receivers is passed through an electronic inverter that produces grid-quality alternating current. Transformers step up the voltage to the requirement of the local network at the point of connection. Advantages claimed for this design include:[4]

Previous projects

The commercialisation of this technology has already seen four smaller solar power stations established in central Australia, with support from the Australian Greenhouse Office.[7]

See also

Energy portal
Australia portal
Environment portal

References

External links