PROJECTS BOOST SUSTAINABLE REMOTE POWER GENERATION

Projects utilising the latest technology are helping provide remote and regional Queenslanders with sustainable and reliable energy supplies.

Energy Minister John Mickel today told the Parliamentary Energy Estimates Committee that hi-tech solar, hydro and geothermal projects were helping to meet the challenge of providing power to remote and regional Queensland.

“Stanwell Corporation’s Barron Gorge Hydro is again generating clean, green electricity, with the recommissioning of its two generators following an upgrade program to extend the life of the power station,” Mr Mickel said.

The $28 million upgrade has extended the life of some major components of the facility for another 40 years and enables the power station to be operated remotely, if required.

The upgrade will maintain the operational reliability of the hydro into the future and will ensure Far North Queenslanders continue to benefit from secure, reliable and environmentally responsible energy.

Ergon Energy is investing $2.5 million to trial innovative solar power technology at Windorah in south-west Queensland.

“It’s expected the Windorah solar farm project will involve five sun-reflecting dishes concentrating sunlight onto a high-capacity solar cell in front of each mirror,” Mr Mickel said.

“The project aims to generate about 360,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year by 2008, enough to provide all Windorah’s daytime electricity needs.”

Ergon Energy expects the project to save up to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel a year, which equates to 300-350 tonnes of greenhouse gases not entering the atmosphere.

Ergon Energy is also currently conducting a feasibility study into expanding and improving Australia’s only geothermal power station at Birdsville.

“The power station uses hot water pumped from the GreatArtesianBasin to supply about a quarter of Birdsville’s energy needs,” Mr Mickel said.

“The Ergon Energy study is investigating expanding that to provide 100 percent of the town’s power, eliminating the need for diesel or other fuel.”

Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government had laid the foundations for further potential renewable generation in regional Queensland with the announcement earlier this year of five successful tenders for geothermal exploration leases in western and south-west Queensland.

The Queensland Government has also been working with communities across the Torres Strait on a number of significant energy projects.

Mr Mickel last year launched the Badu Island Solar Towns Pilot Project, which is helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the use of diesel fuel to run generators.

Under the pilot project, solar power systems ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 kilowatts have been installed on the police station, child care centre, health care centre, council chambers and the business centre.

Solar power systems have also been installed in schools at Badu Island and Thursday Island. The Solar Schools program supported 30 schools in regional areas across Queensland between 2004 and 2005.

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Media information: Elouise Campion (07) 3224 7332