Solar energy is indeed making giant strides forward with each passing day. As the world realizes more & more that the energy of the sun is vital & when harnessed in a right way can light up & cool thousands of homes. Most of the Australian outback is a pretty warm place, but they seem to be warming up to the sun just now. Australia is heading on a path of using alternative sources of energy by harnessing the power of the sun. In a step towards this, Cloncurry, a small time town in the vast Australian outback, is being set up with a huge solar energy harnessing plant.
Government of Australia is planning construction of a $7 million solar thermal power station, which would provide a community of less than 5000 with 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply. The project is being designed in a unique way. 8000 mirrors are being used to reflect sunlight on to granite rocks. Water is allowed to flow under these rocks which would heat up the water into steam. This steam would eventually run the turbines & then you all know what happens; it’s the usual story. I find it as very wonderful & unique way. It does not use solar panels & that makes the project all the less expensive. Cloncurry is a small town mining town with no power supply & this would help it immensely.
The Aussie government is also planning a $420 million large-scale solar concentrator in Mildura, Victoria and a solar updraft tower has been proposed for Buronga in Western New South Wales. Seems like solar energy is on its way up down in Australia.
