Solar steps up as coal steps down

Large-scale solar power will inevitably catch up in cost competitiveness with conventional electricity generation in Australia and will "fill the void" as dirty, ageing coal-fired plants are shut down, according to the regional head of the country's biggest solar developer, First Solar.

Jack Curtis, Asia Pacific manager for First Solar, AGL Energy's partner at two major new solar ventures in western NSW, said the company had set up a low-cost local supply chain for key equipment, which would drive down the cost of future projects.

Speaking after the formal opening of the Nyngan and Broken Hill solar plants on Wednesday, Mr Curtis said costs for large-scale solar had already fallen about 30 per cent from 3-4 years ago, to about $120 per megawatt-hour on the back of only a few projects.

Read Angela Macdonald-Smith’s story in today’s Age - “Solar power to 'fill the void' as coal power plants close: First Solar.”