Solar Systems

Solar Systems Generation (external link) proposes to develop a large scale, solar power demonstration project in North Western Victoria using Solar Systems’ Heliostat Concentrator Photovoltaic (HCPV) Technology.

The 154 megawatt plant spread over 800 hectares will produce enough power for more than 45,000 homes. The clean energy will be created by world-first technology originally designed to power satellites and is able to concentrate the sun’s energy by 500 times.

Stage One of the project, which commenced in mid 2008, will see the reconfiguration of proven solar systems solar dish technology into Heliostat Concentrator Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology. This will include the installation, commissioning and testing of a 250 heliostat concentrator field and two towers for a total of 2MW electrical output. The project will reach full capacity by 2013.

The Victorian Government has awarded an (up to) $50 million grant (additional to the LSDP grants) and (up to) $75 million funding has been allocated by the Commonwealth Government under the LETDF program and $4.5 million under the AP6 forum for the $420 million project.