With many speculating that the impressive growth rate of solar power may plateau this year, the local solar energy scene has nonetheless received some good news at this early stage of 2013.
That's because Belectric Australia has just announced that it has received planning approval for a 5 MW solar power plant to be built in Mildura, Victoria.
The NSW-bordering town will be home to the imaginatively-named Mildura Solar Power Plant 1.
Solar buffs likely won't care too much about the uncreative moniker. What might catch their attention is the fact that an international solar power heavyweight like Belectric are investing in our solar resources.
This will be the Germany-based project developer's first utility-scale power plant on Australian shores and according to Belectric Australia managing director Nir Dekel, it will likely not be the last.
"The planning permit is the first step toward implementing further solar projects in Australia," said Mr Dekel in a statement released yesterday (January 22).
Melbourne-based solar PV engineering consultancy Clean Technology Partners (CTP) worked with Belectric to secure planning.
The firm's managing director, Lachlan Bateman, said that Australia was "one of the growth markets of the future", due to the excellent conditions here for photovoltaic energy production.
"Together with BELECTRIC, one of the most competent and experienced companies in the market, we see great potential for the realisation of further power plants," said Mr Bateman.
The two companies have concluded a framework agreement for further projects.
Mildura is shaping up to be a solar hot spot. It is also near the site of another proposed solar power plant.
The 154 MW Mildura Solar Concentration Power Station will generate enough energy for more than 45,000 homes.
Right now it is in stage one of a three-stage development process, with a 2 MW pilot demonstration facility currently under construction.
Posted by Mike Peacock