Last month it was announced the world’s largest battery would be built in South Australia. The state government will add to its impressive to-do list, revealing plans to build the world’s biggest, single-tower solar thermal power plant. This structure is projected to output 150 megawatts, incorporating 8 hours of storage (1,100 megawatt-hours).
Located in Port Augusta, the task is known as The Aurora Solar Energy Project, which will be created and maintained by SolarReserve—a leader in extensive, international solar thermal designs.
“Under normal operating conditions, the plant will have a capacity of about 135 megawatts, with the ability to increase that output in favorable conditions, such as in the evening,” according to SolarReserve.
The power plant will deliver 495 gigawatt-hours of power each year, which is roughly five percent of South Australia’s energy requirements. The project is expected to provide 90,000 households with power, using zero fossil fuels in the process. Additionally, efficient storage is forecasted to go 40 years without degradation.
Construction is scheduled to begin next year, with early plans to produce electricity by 2020.
To get a better look at its design, components, and construction site, scroll through the photo gallery below.
