Tracking technology for Alice Springs solar plant

An expansion to the Uterne solar plant at Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, completed by renewable energy company Epuron, includes innovative tracking technology.

The newly constructed expansion has increased the capacity of the solar plant from 1 to 4.1 MW and is expected to meet the needs of about 1100 homes.

“We are delighted to add the Uterne expansion to our growing portfolio of operational solar assets,” said Martin Poole, Epuron Solar executive director.

“Uterne is the largest solar farm in Australia, with sun-tracking technology which captures more energy consistently throughout the day.”

The tracking technology enables the panels to follow the sun and deliver up to a reported 30% more energy than fixed-tilt installations.

Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) CEO Oliver Yates said the $13 million upgrade financed through the corporation demonstrates the potential for solar for regional towns across Australia.

“Lower-cost solar power and the development of battery storage technologies offer exciting potential for rural and remote communities wanting to drive down their energy costs,” Yates said.

“The solar potential of Australia is obvious, and the CEFC stands ready to invest and help catalyse the finance required for the growth of utility-scale solar in Australia.

“The construction of more large-scale solar capacity will help drive down future construction and maintenance costs, as industry participants gain experience building and operating these projects.”

The plant was constructed by SunPower and will supply the Alice Springs electricity network, which is operated by the Northern Territory’s Power and Water Corporation.

The CEFC says it has $78.8 million already committed to direct investment in 72.5 MW of large-scale solar projects valued at $231.4 million and is also working on a further pipeline of investment opportunities valued at over $200 million.

One of these projects is the 56 MW Moree Solar Farm and reportedly Australia’s largest solar and battery storage project to date, being constructed at Sandfire Resources’ DeGrussa mine in WA.

The CEFC also assisted South Australian produce supplier Sundrop Farms secure capital for solar thermal technology. 

Image courtesy of Epuron.