REGIONAL energy supplier Horizon Power has teamed up with Darwin-based PowerCorp and Perth-based SunPower Australia to build two hybrid solar-diesel power stations in the Pilbara, at a cost of $25 million. The stations will be built at Marble Bar and Nullagine and together will generate one gigawatt of renewable energy. The project consists of 1,008 solar modules installed at Marble Bar and 900 at Nullagine.“A single-axis horizontal solar tracking system will follow the path of the sun in each town through the day,” Horizon said. “The high efficiency photovoltaic arrays are the largest of their type ever to be installed in Australia.“The single axis tracking system will tilt the solar modules throughout the day to capture 30 per cent more energy that traditional fixed-tilt systems.” Construction is due to start in March next year with project completion scheduled for December 2009, a Horizon Power spokesperson told WA Business News. She said Horizon is footing the $25 million capital budget bill, with PowerCorp and SunPower to lend their technical expertise to the project.
