Strategic partnerships to develop renewable energy solutions

As part of the collaborative effort, Ocean Power Technologies (Australasia) Pty Ltd and Leighton Contractors will develop and commercialise OPT’s ocean tested wave power technology in Australia and New Zealand.

Leighton Contractors also signed an agreement with MAN Solar Millennium to develop solar thermal power plants in Australia. A joint venture between MAN Ferrostaal AG and Solar Millennium AG, the German-based company specialises in power plants which use direct solar irradiation converted into heat for large-scale generation of electricity.

Phil Cooper, Executive General Manager for Leighton Contractors, said the company was committed to developing its expertise across a range of renewable energy technologies and boosting the number of green energy options available to consumers over the coming years.

“It is clear that a range of different energy solutions will have to be investigated if Australia is to meet the federal government’s renewable energy targets by 2020,” Cooper said.

“As such, we are taking a portfolio view of the renewable energy market, and we believe solar thermal and wave energy will each play a role as we move to lower carbon energy sources."

Leighton Contractors is exploring solar thermal power solutions with MAN Solar Millennium. Solar thermal power plants convert sunlight into heat for the large-scale generation of electricity. These plants are capable of producing environmentally friendly dispatchable electricity in the range of up to 250 MW.

“Australia has one of the greatest solar energy potential in the world due to high solar irradiation, so it makes a lot of sense to utilise this resource,” Cooper said.

MAN Solar Millennium is currently in the process of realising the 50 MW solar thermal power plant Andasol 3 in Southern Spain. It is the third project on this site, identical in construction to Andasol 1 and 2 totalling 150 MW.