Solar station for N.S.W.

Press, 14 May 1979, Page 9

Solar station for N.S.W.

NZPA Sydney A prototype solarenergy power station — believed to be the first of its kind in the world — is to be built in western New South Wales, the state Government has announced. The announcement will mean that a small town will, in about two years, be using electricity derived entirely from the sun’s rays. The Premier (Mr Neville Wran) said a team from the Australian National University in Canberra would move into far-west-em New South Wales in the next few weeks to determine a site for the station. In a related development, the Premier also announced that the Government was considering various incentives to encourage people to make greater use of solar energy. Mr Wran said incentives under discussion included rebates on rates and the payment of direct cash subsidies to offset the cost of purchasing home solarenergy units. The A.N.U. team of about 15 will be led by Professor Stephen Kaneff, who designed the generating system. The New South Wales Government will outlay sAustBoo,ooo on the project over two years.

Mr Wran is adamant that the solar power station will be a success, and says that by the end of the century solar installations could be supplying between 15 and 20 per cent of the state’s energy requirement. Furthermore, he says the system will eventually be extended to other areas of western New South Wales which at present rely on oil for the generation of electricity.