Sustainable Power Revises Plans, Proposes Solar Photovoltaic Plant at Whyalla in Queensland

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Sustainable Power Partners Pty Limited (Brisbane, Australia) announced that it is developing a 5-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Whyalla, Queensland, instead of a 40-MW solar thermal project, due to significant capital issues.

In 2008, Sustainable Power formed Whyalla Solar Oasis Business, a special purpose entity, with N.P. Power Pty Limited (Sydney, Australia) to develop the 40-MW Solar Thermal power plant using a new technology. The joint venture also involved two other companies, Lycopedium Pty Limited (Victoria, Australia) and Wizard Power Pty Limited. Wizard Power is now in the insolvency stage.

The 40-MW Solar Oasis project received a $16 million federal grant in 2012; however, the government pulled back the funds, making it difficult and uneconomic for the joint venture entity to proceed with the development. Hence, Sustainable Power moved out of the venture and has come up with new proposal to develop an economic project using the existing PV technology.

According to new proposal, Sustainable Power will develop a 5-MW solar PV plant as part of the Phase I Whyalla project. Phase II is planned to generate 5 MW, while the project has the potential to expand up to 200 MW. Sustainable Power is now revising the power purchase agreement and is looking for buyers and financers for the project.

Sustainable Power will be looking for potential suppliers and technology providers for the project early next year, along with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies. According to a project spokesperson at Sustainable Power, project construction is scheduled to begin during the middle of next year.

The construction period will last five to six months, and the solar farm will come online by early 2015. Phase II construction will commence accordingly on completion of Phase I. For the 40-MW solar thermal project, Sustainable selected Lycopedium as the EPC and Wizard Power as the technology provider. Sustainable Power is still keen to proceed with the same companies for the new project.

View Plant Profile - 3005970
View Project Report - 300011634

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.