Labor to announce solar plant for renewable heat
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The news: Labor is framing a push for renewables as a jobs boon, as it seeks to strike a contrast with the Coalition’s “risky” nuclear strategy.
The context: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce on Tuesday Australia’s first commercial Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) heat plant to be located in Wodonga.
Construction will begin this month, and the $17 million project is expected to be in operation by 2026. Albanese will join Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the site on Tuesday.
CST uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, producing thermal energy which is stored and used during the manufacturing process. While it has been used to generate electricity for a long time, its use in renewable heat for industry is relatively novel.
The government estimates the new plant will halve the facility’s gas use, and create roughly 80 jobs in construction.
Albanese has made renewable energy central to his signature Future Made In Australia plan, and is seeking to contrast that with the Coalition's nuclear energy strategy.
Labor is using a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear energy to put the Coalition’s plan, which is currently uncosted, back on the agenda.
What they said: “Renewable energy is bringing new jobs and new industry across our country, including regional Australia,” Albanese said.
“It’s up to Peter Dutton to detail the costs of their risky nuclear scheme and explain why they’re against a Future Made in Australia.”
The source: Prime Minister’s press release
