Draft:Jemalong (New South Wales, Australia) Concentrating Solar Thermal Project

The Vast Solar CST Power Generation Project is a significant initiative located in Jemalong, New South Wales, Australia, that began in 2012 with the 1.2 MW Performance Validation Project, supported by funding from the Australian Solar Institute. Vast Solar, a pioneering company, introduced a low-cost, high-performance concentrating solar thermal (CST) power system involving a solar field of 700 mirrors focused on a single tower with a thermal energy receiver.

Building upon the success of the Performance Validation Project, Vast Solar secured private funding from Australian and European investors. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) recognized the potential of Vast Solar's technology and provided funding for the construction of a 6MW (th) CST power generation pilot-scale plant. This innovative plant comprises five modules and includes three hours of thermal energy storage.

The primary objectives of the project are to demonstrate the reliable and safe operation of the system, gather performance and cost data, and refine operational controls and maintenance processes to propel the technology towards commercialization. The plant, which connects to the National Electricity Market through Essential Energy's West Jemalong Substation, will serve as a showcase for Vast Solar's low-cost, high-efficiency technology.

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) power plants, such as the one developed by Vast Solar, harness the sun's energy to produce efficient, large-scale solar power generation. The solar array, consisting of mirrors, reflects the sun's energy onto a thermal receiver, and subsequently, to a thermal energy storage system. This stored energy can be released on demand, providing a reliable and dispatchable energy source for electricity generation, network support, and high-efficiency steam supply for industrial processes.

Vast Solar's CST design, incorporating energy storage, holds the potential to significantly reduce the cost of solar energy, making it comparable to wind energy (around $100 per megawatt hour). This cost-effectiveness, coupled with the ability to dispatch power as needed, enhances the appeal of CST as a mainstream energy generation technology. While various design strategies are being trialled globally to drive down costs for CST systems, the Vast Solar CST Power Generation Project aims to demonstrate rapid cost reduction pathways to facilitate the broader adoption of CST in the energy landscape.