Vast Unveils Innovative Solar Tower
Australia’s Vast Renewables has achieved a significant milestone by completing the construction of a cutting-edge concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) receiver tower. This tower, a crucial component of Australia’s inaugural large-scale solar thermal venture, was developed and produced in Goodna, Queensland. The project, known as the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub, will feature a 30 MW solar thermal facility with eight hours of storage capacity in South Australia’s Port Augusta, alongside a solar methanol plant.
The solar thermal segment of the initiative, named VS1, secured a substantial $65 million funding injection from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. This financial support was formalised in an agreement disclosed by federal energy minister Chris Bowen in early 2023. Additionally, Vast confirmed an updated funding arrangement in December, enabling access to $30 million from its existing Arena grant. This funding is earmarked for bolstering green technology manufacturing and project development activities.
Advancing Towards Project Completion
Craig Wood, the CEO of Vast, expressed his satisfaction with the successful construction of the receiver tower, marking a pivotal step towards finalising the project later this year. Wood highlighted the tower’s significance, stating that it represents the culmination of rigorous testing and validation processes essential for ensuring operational readiness.
Wood emphasised, “For many years now we’ve been validating each of the components of the technology… This is the last of those tests that we need to kick off to make sure that everyone is comfortable before we move forward.”
Revolutionary Tower Technology
Vast’s tower technology stands out as a core innovation within the company’s solar thermal power approach. Distinguished by its modular and repeatable design, the tower boasts a simple supply chain, facilitating swift on-site assembly and streamlined commissioning processes. This innovative design minimises energy losses, incorporates few moving parts, and ensures reliable long-term performance.
Wood elaborated on the tower’s unique features, contrasting it with conventional solar thermal structures prevalent worldwide. He highlighted the tower’s ease of construction, emphasising its rapid assembly on-site within a mere four days. This streamlined approach, coupled with a modular design, enables operational flexibility and simplified maintenance procedures.
Moreover, Vast’s patented technology is proudly conceptualised and manufactured in Australia, leveraging the nation’s abundant natural resources to drive the growth of a domestic CSP industry. Wood underscored the company’s commitment to fostering export opportunities for Australian green technology, thereby contributing to global clean energy initiatives.
Reflecting on the project’s achievements, Wood remarked, “We’re proud of the breakthroughs we’ve achieved, and the immense potential our technology has to play a vital role in the world’s decarbonisation efforts.”
