Areva Solar has won the right to install the Southern Hemisphere’s largest solar power system in Queensland Australia. The 44MW solar thermal augmentation project will be installed at CS Energy's 750MW Kogan Creek coal power station and generate around 44,000 MWh of electricity per annum.
Building work to install Areva’s Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology is scheduled to get underway in the next few months, with commercial operation planned for 2013. The total cost of the planned upgrade is estimated to be AU$104.7 million (US$109.9 million).
“The Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project will generate additional electricity to help meet Queensland's growing energy demand,” CS Energy chief executive David Brown said. “By using energy from the sun with Areva's solar booster application, we will make the coal-fired plant more fuel-efficient and reduce its greenhouse intensity – avoiding the production of 35,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.”
Kogan Creek will use Areva’s CLFR technology to supplement the power station's coal-fired steam generation system, thus increasing its electrical output and fuel efficiency. The power station is already connected to Australia's electricity grid, which will enable the solar generated power to flow directly into the Queensland network.
Areva has also agreed to build and operate a manufacturing plant to support Kogan Creek. The factory will also help stimulate the Australian solar industry by supplying future projects in the region.