Windorah Solar Farm
Encyclopedia
The Windorah Solar Farm is Ergon Energy's first solar farm trial near the town of Windorah
in Queensland
.
The plant uses five concentrated solar dishes or reflectors which were manuafactured and installed by Solar Systems
. This is expected to save up to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel per year. The integration of solar farm and diesel power is a first for Ergon Energy.
The dishes contain 112 square mirrors each measuring 1.1 m across. The five solar reflectors sit atop 13 m masts and can rotate 360°. The array will produce about 180 kilowatts of electricity for up to 10 months of the year. The total cost of the project was A$4.5 million with $1 million being provided by the federal government
.
The solar farm was opened in December 2008, and on sunny days will supply the total daytime electricity requirements for the town of Windorah, with a population of 100. When the solar power runs low the existing diesel power station provides electricity. Not all of the dishes are used all the time. Some dishes are parked depending on the town's energy requirements.
Windorah, Queensland
Windorah is one of three towns in the Barcoo in south-west Queensland, Australia. It is named after the local Aboriginal word for "Big Fish". At the 2006 census, Windorah had a population of 158....
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
The plant uses five concentrated solar dishes or reflectors which were manuafactured and installed by Solar Systems
Solar Systems (company)
Solar Systems has constructed three concentrator dish power stations in the Northern Territory, which together generate 720 kW and 1,555,000 kWh per year. This represents a saving of 420,000 litres of diesel fuel and 1550 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.In 2003 Solar Systems completed...
. This is expected to save up to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel per year. The integration of solar farm and diesel power is a first for Ergon Energy.
The dishes contain 112 square mirrors each measuring 1.1 m across. The five solar reflectors sit atop 13 m masts and can rotate 360°. The array will produce about 180 kilowatts of electricity for up to 10 months of the year. The total cost of the project was A$4.5 million with $1 million being provided by the federal government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
.
The solar farm was opened in December 2008, and on sunny days will supply the total daytime electricity requirements for the town of Windorah, with a population of 100. When the solar power runs low the existing diesel power station provides electricity. Not all of the dishes are used all the time. Some dishes are parked depending on the town's energy requirements.
See also
- List of active power stations in Queensland
- Solar Cities in AustraliaSolar Cities in AustraliaSolar Cities is an innovative demonstration programme designed to promote solar power, smart meters, energy conservation and new approaches to electricity pricing to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia...
- Solar power in AustraliaSolar power in AustraliaAustralia has an estimated 300 MW of installed photovoltaic power , contributing an estimated 0.1 to 0.2% of total electricity production despite the hot and sunny climate that would make it ideal for utilisation...