Victorian Government provides $100m for new solar power station
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10 March 2009
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The Victorian Government will provide up to $100 million to develop a new large-scale solar power station in Victoria, and is seeking proposals for a plant which can produce about 330GWh of electricity per year or enough power to run 50,000 homes.
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This would be enough power to run all Victorian Government departments and agencies, including public schools, police stations, VicRoads and even the Melbourne Zoo.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said expressions of interest will be called for immediately and the aim will be to have the plant operating by 2015.
“Solar has huge potential in Victoria and large-scale solar is the most economical form of solar energy generation which is why we are providing this funding.
“This project is expected to drive investment and create jobs in regional Victoria,” he said.
The Victorian Government funding would be subject to the project receiving matching funding from the Federal Government.
“We have fast-tracked this project so companies can tap into the Federal Government’s funding available under the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program,” Mr Brumby said.
“Solar power generation is expensive because the solar industry is still in its infancy. The way to drive down the cost is to speed up development of solar plants which is why the Victorian Government will provide funding for a new solar power station.”
Mr Brumby said the funding was just one of many Victorian Government initiatives designed to increase renewable energy sources such as solar energy.
“This Government is supporting the full spectrum of solar generation and has provided a $6 million grant for the Organic Solar R&D project and $50 million through our Energy Technology Innovation Strategy for the Solar Systems 154MW large-scale solar plant near Mildura,” he said.
“Our Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) has already attracted $2 billion in renewable energy investment and will create more than 2000 jobs, and we have invested $5 million to install solar power infrastructure in 500 schools and community buildings.”
Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the latest proposal would provide a massive boost to large-scale solar development in Victoria and would help diversify the state’s renewable energy mix.
“These projects coupled with the announcement today represent more than $1 billion worth of investment in solar projects in Victoria,” Mr Batchelor said.
“It will be the second large-scale solar project in Victoria and will make us the most solar friendly-government in Australia.”
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