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Many energy experts agree how solar energy is the only renewable energy source that has enough potential to replace fossil fuels as dominant energy sources in years to come. Many countries are taking these thoughts rather seriously by investing bunch of money into different solar power projects, mostly solar power station. One of these countries is Australia that looks to be taking huge steps into developing solar energy sector by planning to build the world's biggest solar power station with an output of 1000 megawatts in a A$1.4 billion (US$1.05 billion) investment.
According to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this plant will have three times the generating capacity of the current biggest solar-powered electricity plant, which is located in California. To get a perspective on how powerful will be this solar power plant compared to other types of power plants: most powerful nuclear power plant in United States is Palo Verde 2, Arizona with 1335 MW. Average net capacity of US power plant is about 954 MW and with that in mind we can see that this solar power plant will have bigger power output.
Details will be announced later this year, and the names of successful bidders will be announced in the first half of 2010. Rudd said the project was aimed at exploiting the country's ample sunshine, which he called "Australia's biggest natural resource", and it was also aimed at helping the country become a leader in renewable, clean energy, something that Australia desperately needs since coal is still dominant energy source that drives Australian economy.
Artist concept of what would be the world's largest solar power plant in Australia.
Australia has been lately criticized by not investing much into renewable energy sector but these government plans to invest with industry in the biggest solar generation plant in the world, three times the size of the world's current biggest should really not only silence the critics but also open the door for even more renewable energy projects in years to come.
What Australia is doing here is giving clean energy a decent chance for development. This gigantic solar power station should not only boost Australian economic activity in times of recession but it will also provide more jobs and open lot of opportunities for different new business.
If we are to believe Australian government this gigantic solar power station is only step one as this project should eventually lead to a network of solar-powered stations across the whole country, with locations chosen to fit in with the existing electricity grid and ensure good access to sunshine. If everything goes well Australia will make massive step forward, becoming one of the clean energy leaders in the world, and this is something that should be example to all other big countries around the globe.
The A$1.4 billion that will be spend on this project was part of a wider A$4.65 clean energy initiative by the government, a proof that Australia is investing more and more money to renewables to give clean energy a decent chance in future.
Rudd also announced how Australia would become a full member of the International Renewable Energy Agency, which will have its first global meeting in June. Given all of this, it will be really interesting to see how much Australia plans to decrease its CO2 emissions later this year in Copenhagen when world will try to agree new Kyoto protocol. Bigger cuts in CO2 emissions would definitely speed up the development of renewable energy sector in Australia.
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