Windorah Solar Farm Explained
The Windorah Solar Farm was Ergon Energy's first solar farm trial near the town of Windorah in the Shire of Barcoo, Queensland, Australia. The plant used five concentrated solar dishes or reflectors which were manufactured and installed by Solar Systems. This was expected to save up to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel per year.[1] The integration of solar farm and diesel power was a first for Ergon Energy.[2]
The dishes contained 112 square mirrors each measuring 1.1 m across. The five solar reflectors sat atop 13 m masts and could rotate 360°.[3] The array was expected to produce about 180 kilowatts of electricity for up to 10 months of the year.[3] The total cost of the project was A$4.5 million with $1 million being provided by the federal government.[4]
The solar farm was opened in December 2008,[5] [6] and on sunny days was expected to supply the total daytime electricity requirements for the town of Windorah, with a population of 100. When the solar power ran low the existing diesel power station provided electricity.[7] Not all of the dishes were used all the time. Some dishes were parked depending on the town's energy requirements.[2]
In 2013, Ergon Energy reported that the plant was operating effectively, with environmental conditions such as dust and wildlife having some impact on the reliability of the solar farm.[8]
In October 2023, the power station was demolished. Ergon Energy plans to build a new solar farm on the site.[9]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Windorah Solar Farm – A Beacon Of Sunlight . pdf . 2010-10-23 . 17 November 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101117033142/http://www.ergon.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/4976/Windorah-Solar-Project-brochure.pdf . dead .
- Web site: Windorah Solar Farm . 23 October 2010 . 2 July 2010 . Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation . 20 February 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110220034258/http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/windorah_solar_farm.cfm . live .
- News: Work heats up on outback solar farm . 6 September 2010 . 8 July 2008 . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
- News: Outback town running on sun . 6 September 2010 . 29 October 2009 . . APN News & Media . 6 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113437/http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/story/2009/10/29/windorah-outback-town-running-on-sun/ . live .
- Web site: PM, Bligh to open Qld's first solar town . 2008-12-15 . . 6 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090106023612/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/14/2445945.htm . live .
- Web site: Sun could power remote communities . 2008-12-15 . . 18 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081218083304/http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/sun-could-power-remote-communities/2008/12/14/1229189446274.html . live .
- News: Outback town first in state to go solar . 6 September 2010 . 10 September 2008 . . Fairfax Media . 11 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080911101337/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/outback-town-first-in-state-to-go-solar/2008/09/10/1220857625054.html . live .
- News: Ergon has no plans for more solar farms. 2013-05-30. ABC News. 2017-03-03. en-AU. 3 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303124158/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-30/ergon-has-no-plans-for-more-solar-farms/4722382. live.
- News: 2023-10-18 . This outback solar farm is a failure. So why is a new one being built on the site? . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-11-25 . 24 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124014948/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-19/windorah-solar-dishes-to-be-replaced-with-panels-ergon-energy/102968984 . live .
