Turning up the heat

摘要

The world's largest hybrid solar-diesel power station is in its testing and commissioning phase in one of Australia's hottest towns - Marble Bar, in the east Pilbara region of Western Australia. The power station is now undergoing rigorous reliability tests and a second power station in Nullagine is only months away from operation. The stations will be powered by the biggest solar farms of their type in Australia, incorporating the latest in energy storage technology. In Marble Bar, 1350 panels, and in Nullagine, 900 panels will be used to power the new stations which are expected to be operational by July 2010. The energy storage system will improve efficiency and stabilise power quality between the diesel power station and solar panels as well as covering solar radiation fluctuations, for example during periods of cloud cover.