Solar and wind rising to the challenge

Renewable energy think tank Beyond Zero Emissions have demonstrated the opportunity for Port Augusta to become a renewable energy power hub.

Repowering Port Augusta is a strategic plan to replace the emissions intensive Northern and Playford B brown coal power plants at Port Augusta with renewable energy. This proposal would help Australia to take advantage of our natural competitive advantage of abundant solar energy. It would enable South Australia to become a world leader in renewable energy, and Port Augusta would become an iconic global hub for baseload solar power generation.

Six solar thermal power towers and ninety wind turbines would replace these power plants and provide secure, affordable electricity to South Australia and the Eastern Australian grid. The development would more than secure the existing 250 jobs at local power stations, as well creating 1,300 construction jobs and 225 manufacturing jobs for South Australia.

The 760 megawatts currently supplied by Playford B and Northern can be replaced by 6 concentrated solar thermal plants and 95 wind turbines.

 


 


Current-Coal


Gas


Solar/Wind


Permanent jobs


250


 76


360

Construction jobs 0 380 (over 2 years) 1300 (over 6 years)
Manufacturing jobs 0 0
225
Upstream jobs
200 (Leigh Creek coal mine) 10-50 0

Health Issues?


Yes


Yes


No


Emissions


5,000,000 tonnes/yr


2,000,000 tonnes/yr


Close to zero


Electricity Price Rise


Fluctuates with international rates


Fluctuations with international rates


~1c per kWh


International Reliance


No


Yes


No


Life of Power Plant


 50 years


50 years


50 years


Risk of Plant Explosion?


Yes


Yes


No


Generates How much electricity?


4,650 GWh


4,650 GWh 


4,650 GWh


Contaminates Water?


Yes


Yes


No

 

To access the full report click here

To read our Policy Proposal click here

To read our Briefing Paper click here

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