Solar on Display
by Sarah Robertson
A Solar Technology Demonstration Facility under development in Central Australia will display large scale solar installations in a bid to encourage the use of solar energy in Australia's harsh desert environment.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs will be the first site in Australia to publicly showcase over 15 large scale solar installations, and provide the opportunity to compare their performance as well as provide and interactive display for the public.
The $3 million precinct will display new solar photovoltaic technologies, including the first use of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Panels and Cadmium Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) Panels in mainstream grid connect installations. The facility will also display solar concentrator dishes utilising the latest in waterless cooling systems and large scale tracking arrays.
Chief Executive Officer John Huigen said the project will give Desert Knowledge Australia the opportunity to provide evidence-based technology, which in the future will help to secure solar investment to create a sustainable future for desert regions.
Mr Huigen said there had been a high level of interest from solar technology companies to participate in the facility and showcase their technologies.
"Because of the overwhelming response by the solar industry, additional funding was sought to include the extra technologies, resulting in a further $420,000 from the Australian Greenhouse Office," he said.
Grant Behrendorff from the Centre for Appropriate Technology said that Alice Springs has some of the best renewable energy knowledge in Australia, and as it has evolved, the region has become a real resource point.
The Facility is funded by the Australian Government's Remote Renewable Power Generation Rebate Program through the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Northern Territory Department fo Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2008.
The above excerpts are from the article "Solar on Display" by Sarah Robertson. The full article can be found in EcoGeneration (the official journal of the Clean Energy Council) March/April 2008, pages 36-38. You can find more information about this magazine here: www.ecogeneration.com.au