WHITE CLIFFS SOLAR POWER GENERATION

Submitted: Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 11:56
ThreadID: 57944 Views:5607 Replies:5 FollowUps:1
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Anyone know the storey of the dishes that use the sun to create power.I m told they worked why were they nothballed ?
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Reply By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 13:24

Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 13:24
White Cliffs solar power
AnswerID: 305594

Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 13:26

Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 13:26
Meant to say the above link will tell you what you want to know.
Cheers,
Fred.
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Reply By: Vince NSW - Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 20:06

Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 20:06
Some silly bugger hooked White Cliffs up to the state grid. What a waste of good solar power
Vince
AnswerID: 305656

Reply By: mechpete - Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 21:35

Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 21:35
when, was up there in 85, the locals told us that it was an experiment in conjunction with theSydney University !! ,the discs turned the water into steam which drove the generaters to generate electricity . It was quite interesting , because in the morning the dics were facing the sun, they followed the sun every imnute they moved to maintain direct sunlight ,an at the end of the day they would swing back to the east for the morning .
mechpete
AnswerID: 305670

Reply By: Dave B (NSW) - Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 10:17

Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 10:17
As far as I know, the old Lister diesel that was converted to run on steam, is still at White Cliffs.
There was a local guy called Bruce who was taking tours through the site, but not to sure if that is still possible as Bruce is not there at the moment.
The ANU initially set it up as an experiment, then eventually stopped funding it, Dick Smith funded it for a while, then Solar Systems Aust. formed a sort of partnership with Country Energy to try and develop the technology a bit further.
That all ceased about 5 or 6 years ago, and it has been closed down.
There was talk of even taking the dishes away, but they are still there to the best of my knowledge.

If you want to read about some of the technology that was developed there,
Solar Systems

Dave

'Wouldn't be dead for quids'

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AnswerID: 305714

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 14:33

Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 14:33
Pepper,

They are erecting a similar type of solar system @ Windorah at the moment.

This will be used to supplement the current diesel power used in the town, working during daylight hours, with diesel gensets kicking in at night, overcast weather, or periods of high demand. Think the Windorah system uses concentrated solar rays onto a central point, but does not use any steam power.

Hooroo,
Bob.
Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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