Media Release: Repower Port Augusta Calls on Premier Jay Weatherill to step in and Make Solar Thermal in Port Augusta Happen in Response to Alinta Energy Balance of Study

Repower Port Augusta has called for Premier Weatherill to step in to make solar thermal happen following the release of Alinta Energy’s draft balance of study milestone report into solar thermal finding the cost of the projected $577 million project to be prohibitive for Alinta Energy to go it alone on the project.

“A transition from coal to solar thermal is critical for securing long-term jobs in Port Augusta and if Alinta won’t go it alone we need the State Government and Federal Government to step in to make solar thermal happen. Jay Weatherill must play a leadership role in this” Lisa Lumsden, spokesperson for the Repower Port Augusta Alliance said.

“Solar thermal is operating in the United States, Europe, Africa and South America, but in all instances governments have shown leadership to make these projects happen. Port Augusta needs our leaders to do the same” Ms Lumsden said.

“The ball is in the South Australian Government’s court. South Australia has led the way in renewable energy but to see that continue, when the Federal Government is trying to cut the Renewable Energy Target, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Jay Weatherill must urgently put forward a policy to make solar thermal happen”.

“In the ACT they are running a reverse auction tender process for solar projects with storage. This is a tested policy working overseas and in Australia, that Jay Weatherill could make happen here and show leadership”.

Alinta Energy’s balance of study draft report found a $150 million gap in making the project commercially viable.

“With Government assistance, a funding gap of around $150 million for a game-changing renewable energy project is not too much to ask. Our message to Alinta is don’t give up now and our message to the State Government is: do the right thing by Port Augusta and South Australia and step in to make solar thermal happen”.

Repower Port Augusta will be seeking urgent meetings with the State Government in the coming weeks.

For media enquiries: Daniel Spencer 0423 865 632

Alinta Energy's press release and study reports are available here: https://alintaenergy.com.au/about-us/power-generation/port-augusta-solar-thermal