SUN UP DOWN UNDER

As part of EcoNomics, a newly developed corporate sustainability program, multinational engineering giant WorleyParons is planning the development of a series of solar power plants for remote mining and industrial companies.

A check of recent WorleyParsons’ jobs shows an oil refinery expansion and a pipeline project in Canada, offshore drilling platform engineering and maintenance in Siberia and and nuclear plant construction in Bulgaria. Hardly a bunch of treehuggers.

That WorleyParsons is planning solar plant development to power its clients' energy-intensive operations speaks volumes about the practicality and affordability of solar power plant technology. If WorleyParsons says solar power is ready, bet on it.

Peter Meurs, EcoNomics managing director, WorleyParsons: "Our vision is big but it makes sense… This is a real solution with serious players and proven technology."

Meurs wants to build 34 250-megawatt installations in the next 12 years.

The undertaking also speaks volumes in affirmation of another point being made more and more often: New coal plants and new nuclear plants are simply no longer as financially practical as new solar (and new wind).

Here’s Why.

Coal WITHOUT emissions capture technology will be too expensive to operate in any country where a serious cap-and-trade system puts a price on emissions that recognizes the real costs of burning it. Australia, where the first WorleyParsons solar power plants will be built, introduces a cap-and-trade system in 2010.

Coal WITH emissions capture technology doesn’t actually exist except in theory and when it does exist it will likely be too expensive to compete with solar and wind. The Australian government is aggressively pursing emissions capture technology but conclusive results on commercial-scale operations or the safety of large-scale storage will not come before the middle of the next decade (at the earliest).

Nuclear plants present an analogous dilemma. PRESENT nuclear technology is too great a financial risk and rarely finds investors. FOURTH-GENERATION nuclear has not yet been proven.

Solar power plant technology has not yet achieved full price parity with operating dirty coal and established nuclear energies – but that’s like comparing apples and oranges. A better comparison is between NEW coal, NEW nuclear and NEW solar. New solar power plants can be built at a reasonable cost in 2 or 3 years and will only become better investments over time.

Irony: At a recent solar energy conference, a solar industry veteran mentioned to NewEnergyNews that what sustained solar panel makers through the lean years of the 80s and 90s, after President Reagan took Jimmy Carter’s solar panels off the White House and cheap oil put solar energy out of favor, was farmers and pot growers in Northern California – independent businesses – who saw the logic, regardless of the short term cost, of having their own energy.

As solar energy moves rapidly toward mainstream power generation legitimacy, it is the same logic expressed by remote mining and industrial operations – independent businesses on a much larger scale – that is affirming solar’s approaching maturity and economic viability. The logic of owning solar energy is rapidly becoming undeniable.

Peter Meurs, EcoNomics managing director, WorleyParsons: "We didn't know when it would work and were quite surprised at how well it will work…"

NewEnergyNews readers, who have been kept aware of the rapid growth in the solar power plant business, will not be so surprised. Just pleased.

Peter Meurs (EcoNomics managing director, WorleyParsons) explains the program.

Australia as a solar energy leader, says WorleyParsons
Sarah-Jane Tasker, August 13, 2008 (The Australian)
and
WorleyParsons plans world’s biggest solar plant
August 12, 2008 (Reuters via Thompson Financial/Forbes)

WHO
WorleyParsons (John Grill, chief executive; Peter Meurs, managing director)

WHAT
Multinational engineering giant WorleyParsons is planning a series of 250-megawatt solar power plants to supply electricity to remote mining and industrial operations.

The WorleyParsons choice of parabolic mirror trough technology is a big victory over solar power towers and other forms of CSP. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
-Planning and financing is expected to be complete by the end of 2008.
- If plans proceed, the first solar power plant could go on line as soon as 2011.
- WorleyParsons wants to build 34 solar plants by 2020.

WHERE
- WorleyParsons is an Australian company.
- The first solar power plants will be in Australia.
- Australia’s goal is to obtain 20% of its power from New Energy by 2020.

WHY
- Each solar power plant is estimated to cost $1 billion.
- WorleyParsons plans to use parabolic mirror trough technology with steam turbines.
- Among the 9 WorleyParsons clients interested in the proposed 250-megawatt solar power plants are multinational mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.
- WorleyParsons will require buy-ins from its clients to proceed with the first project.
- WorleyParsons announced a 53% jump in its annual profit for the current year. Its earnings were $587 million.

Australia has lots of good sun. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Peter Meurs, managing director, WorleyParsons: "We could become the absolute world leader at about number eight and that would be a wonderful place to be at. This is a real solution with serious players and proven technology."
- John Grill, chief executive, WorleyParsons: "Subject to conditions remaining favourable, we expect to achieve increased earnings in 2009…"