Large-Scale Solar Power Comes to Nowingi

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Nowingi is an underpopulated area in northwest Victoria, Australia, some 500 miles away from Melbourne. It is home to state forests within a national park, and various endangered species. Moreover thirty years of climate records reveal generous year-round sunshine. Therefore it is just the place for a clean, large-scale solar power project.

The Electricity Supply Situation in Victoria

large-scale solar power
Aluminum Smelter: UC Rusal Photo Gallery: CC 2.0

Most of Victoria’s electricity comes from burning brown coal. However this has relatively low heat content, because only 60 to 70% is carbon. Secondly, to complicate things further, one of the major electricity consumers in Victoria, an aluminum smelter at Portland, purchases discounted electricity.

The state is currently introducing wind and solar alternatives. Plus hydro from its sparse water resources to replace natural gas. Things have now reached the point where the state encourages residents to cook and heat their homes with brown coal briquettes.

What Nowingi Large-Scale Solar Power Promises

large-scale solar power
Nowingi Concept: Image Lyon Group

Engineers will soon start positioning 2.3 million solar panels in sparsely populated Nowingi flatlands this September. These will produce 250 megawatts of electricity without the need for refueling outages that bedevil nuclear.

This energy will go to an 80-megawatt / 160 megawatt-hour battery-storage system. Then users will bid for electricity from this large-scale solar power source when energy is elsewhere scarce. Or alternatively when other energy prices are higher. The total project cost is Australian $ 660 million.

Significant Grid-Based Benefits Flowing From This

Dylan McConnell from University of Melbourne’s Climate and Energy College explains the knock-on benefits for the broader grid. “Storage can reduce the need for upgrading transmission lines,” he explains. “And thus help with controlling voltage and so on.”

Furthermore, batteries are the fastest way to respond to unexpected outages, and other power emergencies. First, they react rapidly to frequency fluctuations, and secondly they help  keep the lights on all over Australia. From what we hear, this is just the beginning.

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About Author

I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

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