In the last week, the issue of South Australia’s energy future has taken a dramatic turn. The announcement of the successful tender for the state government’s power purchase agreement finally came.
The choice was SolarReserve’s Port Augusta-based concentrated solar thermal power plant, which will be the largest of its type in the world. The outcome was celebrated by the Port Augusta community, and the campaigners who have supported them.
To discuss this announcement and the future for concentrated solar thermal power in Australia, Barometer’s Des Lawrence spoke to Dr John Pye, Senior Lecturer in the Solar Thermal Group at the Australian National University.