AUSTRALIA 
World's largest solar power plant to be built in Victoria
Monday, 25 February, 2008
The solar panels will be mounted on frames to allow them to 'follow' the sun (Getty)
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The world's largest and most efficient solar power station is to be built in Victoria, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 400,000 tonnes a year.
At a cost of AU$420 million, the solar plant is designed to produce enough clean energy to power up to 45,000 homes by the time it is completed in 2013.
Dozens of high efficiency photovoltaic cells - of the kind designed to power satellites - will be mounted on frames allowing them to track the sun's progress throughout the day.
They will produce electricity whenever the sun is more than five degrees above the horizon, helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of thousands of tonnes.
Jobs boost
Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong says almost 1,000 jobs will be created when federal and state governments and business join forces to begin construction at an as-yet undetermined site in the Swan Hill and Mildura region next year.
Ms Wong used the launch of the solar energy project to release a 'report card' showing Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto protocol targets.
Senator Wong said the Rudd government's policies would produce greater emissions reductions than those forecast by the Howard government.
The report says that by 2020, Australia's emissions will be 120 per cent of 1990 levels - a reduction of 38 million tonnes on the 2006 forecast.
"These projections do not include the introduction of the emissions trading scheme to which the Rudd Labor Government is committed," Ms Wong said.
Murray-Darling talks
Talks on the future of the Murray-Darling Basin are back on the agenda, with a meeting between Victorian officials and the federal government getting under way late on Monday.
"We don't want to play politics with this issue, we want the best outcome for the Basin, and the best outcome for the Basin means the best outcome for all the Basin States," Ms Wong said.
"It means cooperation between the state and federal governments - that will be our focus and that is the basis on which these discussions with Victoria have been proceeding."
Victoria has so far resisted pressure to sign up to an AU$10 billion scheme handing control of the Basin to federal authorities because it does not want to give up its water rights.
Victorian Premier John Brumb says it could be months before there is any breakthrough in the stand-off.
Source: SBS
At a cost of AU$420 million, the solar plant is designed to produce enough clean energy to power up to 45,000 homes by the time it is completed in 2013.
Dozens of high efficiency photovoltaic cells - of the kind designed to power satellites - will be mounted on frames allowing them to track the sun's progress throughout the day.
They will produce electricity whenever the sun is more than five degrees above the horizon, helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of thousands of tonnes.
Jobs boost
Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong says almost 1,000 jobs will be created when federal and state governments and business join forces to begin construction at an as-yet undetermined site in the Swan Hill and Mildura region next year.
Ms Wong used the launch of the solar energy project to release a 'report card' showing Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto protocol targets.
Senator Wong said the Rudd government's policies would produce greater emissions reductions than those forecast by the Howard government.
The report says that by 2020, Australia's emissions will be 120 per cent of 1990 levels - a reduction of 38 million tonnes on the 2006 forecast.
"These projections do not include the introduction of the emissions trading scheme to which the Rudd Labor Government is committed," Ms Wong said.
Murray-Darling talks
Talks on the future of the Murray-Darling Basin are back on the agenda, with a meeting between Victorian officials and the federal government getting under way late on Monday.
"We don't want to play politics with this issue, we want the best outcome for the Basin, and the best outcome for the Basin means the best outcome for all the Basin States," Ms Wong said.
"It means cooperation between the state and federal governments - that will be our focus and that is the basis on which these discussions with Victoria have been proceeding."
Victoria has so far resisted pressure to sign up to an AU$10 billion scheme handing control of the Basin to federal authorities because it does not want to give up its water rights.
Victorian Premier John Brumb says it could be months before there is any breakthrough in the stand-off.
Source: SBS
