$1.2bn solar thermal plant in Port Augusta would create 700 jobs, end coal-fired plants

EXCLUSIVE: A $1.2 billion solar thermal plant at Port Augusta would create 700 jobs and could bring an end to coal-fired plants, South Australians will be told on Tuesday.

A computer generated animation of a solar thermal plant. Picture: Solastor

• REVEALED: Proposal for $1.2bn solar thermal plant
• CLOSED: Alinta Energy power stations in Port Augusta shut down

A $1.2 BILLION solar thermal plant at Port Augusta would create 700 jobs and could bring an end to coal-fired plants, South Australians will be told on Tuesday.

Solastor will make its pitch to build the power plant, which it says would be able to supply more than 211,000 homes and could be the first of many across the nation.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt said it was a “very sophisticated and highly developed” proposal, and that he had briefed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on it.

“He is incredibly interested at a personal level,” Mr Hunt, who is in town for the launch, said.

“Both he and I think it’s an incredibly exciting project.”

The Advertiser revealed on Saturday that the surprise bid has former Liberal leader John Hewson at the helm and the plant could store a week’s worth of energy in graphite blocks, ensuring it could provide reliable power.

It is estimated that the project would employ 600 people during manufacturing and construction, then about 100 ongoing fulltime staff to keep the plant operating.

Valdman’s view on the solar thermal plant for Port Augusta

Solastor says that as Australia shifted to renewable energy, there could be a market for 400 plants.

“These plants could be used to replace the almost 20,000 megawatts of coal-fired power plants that will inevitably be phased out over the next 10 to 20 years,” it said in a statement.

“In addition to the replacement of coal, there is also a market to replace diesel generation systems such as those used in remote communities, islands and mine sites.”

Solastor said it could have a demonstration plant running by the end of the year, and the full plant running between 27 and 30 months after approval.

The plant works with concave mirrors directing the sun’s heat into graphite receivers. Water is then run in tubes past the superheated material to create steam, which drives a turbine.

US company SolarReserve is also keen to build a solar thermal plant at the site, and has secured the promise of financial support from both the state and the federal governments.

Its says they need a long-term contract to buy the electricity to make the project viable.

It would be possible to have two plants if the market permits it.

Solastor also floated the idea of a “heat storage” industry research centre, as part of an SA university.

It is confident they can get State Government approval. It has funding from banks and will seek support from the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Clean Energy Innovation Fund.

It also promised it would not hurt birds, heat up the atmosphere, cause bushfires, affect aircraft or waste water.