MOMENTUM continues to gather behind Port Augusta's solar thermal revolution, with key milestones reached in two multi-million dollar projects.
In August, Port Augusta Council approved the Sundrop Farms expansion, a desert farming development that uses energy from a solar thermal tower to desalinate water from Spencer Gulf, which in turn is used to grow food in greenhouses.
Located about 20 kilometres south of Port Augusta, the existing farming venture plans to build eight more greenhouses and supporting infrastructure across a 20-hectare site.
The centrepiece of the expansion would be a solar-thermal station with a 115-metre tower and 11,000 stands with mirrors to power the operation.
There would be several seawater pipelines and a visitor centre to promote tourism.
Sundrop Farms will now start making detailed designs for the 20ha expansion before obtaining a final construction price from a selected contractor.
This process is expected to take two months before the final decision is made.
Construction is expected to take two years but will be implemented in separate portions, with 10ha of expanded greenhouse expected to be operational in November 2015.
But the farming development is not the only solar thermal project in town.
Alinta Energy is undertaking a feasibility study into the prospect of replacing its aging coal-fired power plants in the city with a solar thermal tower.
The company was considering hybrid coal and a solar power station and a 50-megawatt standalone solar thermal power station, but decided on the latter.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 25, 2014 issue.
