White Cliffs Solar Power Station, 1981-2005
Description
This station was designed and built in 1981 by Australian National University researchers with M$1.9 funding from the NSW Government.
Fourteen tracking parabolic dishes of 5 metres diameter concentrated the sun onto thermal absorbers to heat water.
The steam produced powered a reciprocating engine & generator. As the electricity was sold to the community, this was arguably the Worlds first commercial solar power station.
In 1997 the station was converted to a concentrating photovoltaic system and ceased generating in January 2005.
Division
Marker Type
- HEM: Historic Engineering Marker (to 2008)