China solar backers sought in Australia
Silex, claiming a technology edge, is talking to state-backed power generators for investment in an expansion of a major solar farm project
Silex Systems, an Australian solar energy and nuclear fuel enrichment technology firm, is in talks with Chinese state-backed power generators to invest in its major solar farm project in Australia and buy its equipment to develop projects in China.
The company, listed in Australia and the United States, commissioned a 1.5 megawatts solar farm in Victoria in July, and plans to build a 100MW expansion project on the same site late next year.
Its 1.5MW plant is Australia's first grid-connected solar farm based on so-called concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology.
Silex chief executive Michael Goldsworthy said the company had started talks with two of the mainland's five state-owned power generation groups about investing in the proposed 100MW project, and for them to buy equipment from Silex to develop solar farms on the mainland.
CPV uses curved mirrors or lenses to converge sunlight on to a small area of solar panels to generate electricity. Compared with the mass-commercialised silicon-based solar panels, CPV saves on panel costs as a much smaller area of photovoltaic material is needed.
However, extra investment is required on mirrors and lenses, sunlight trackers and cooling systems, which means it has yet to be mass-commercialised. Work to cut costs is also continuing.
