February 2, 2016
Australia

DP Energy seeks approval for big solar/wind project near Port Augusta as public urged to have say

Posted February 02, 2016 | www.abc.net.au

Port Augusta’s council is encouraging the public to share their views on a renewable energy park proposed to the south of the city, along the Augusta Highway.

DP Energy has submitted an application to the state Development Assessment Committee for the project, which contains up to 59 wind turbines and 1.6 million solar panels, to be built in stages south of Port Augusta.

Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson said the project fits in well in the region, which aims to be a centre for renewable energy.

“It’s been demonstrated in Port Augusta through Sundrop Farms using the technology which they’re using, in this case yes we know that wind turbines do exist around the world and around the countryside and in South Australia as well as solar PV [photovoltaic], but this one is the first of its kind in linking the two together,” he said.

The proposal is now out for public consultation and councillor Johnson is encouraging people to have a say.

“There is always going to be public debate about what the right and wrong form, whether you’re talking solar panels or solar thermal, and also wind farms,” he said.

“There are people that support and don’t support the wind turbines primarily on the basis of baseload power, the reliability of them and secondly on the physical appearance of them as well.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/02/02/dp-energy-seeks-approval-for-big-solarwind-project-near-port-augusta-as-public-urged-to-have-say/