[Greens-Media] WA Greens - Solar power hub of Australia in the south west - Paul Llewellyn

[Anderson, Sonia]

23 August 2008

SOLAR POWER HUB OF AUSTRALIA IN THE SOUTH WEST

The South West could become the solar power hub of Australia, feeding national and international demand for solar energy technologies, says Greens MLC Paul Llewellyn.

"WA's Kemerton silicon smelter just north of Bunbury. is a major global producer. The technology is available right now to upgrade the facility from producing industrial chemical-grade silicon to producing very high grade silicon suitable for solar cell production.

"What is needed to realise the full potential of our silicon smelter is leadership and practical support and industry development to make the shift to high grade downstream processing.

"I understand that Prime Solar, a major solar panel company, has previously sought assistance from the State government to set up the necessary facilities at Kemerton, but has since been lured to do a similar operation in Germany.

"With this major opportunity allowed to slip offshore, we now have to buy back our own silicon at 100 times the price we sold it for.

"Global demand for solar power grade silicon is growing by a massive 35%, and there is still space for a major smelter and Solar Power Hub based on world's best practice in Western Australia.

"This hub will feed the renewable energy industry, which is so vital to an effective response to climate change."