An exciting and innovative new solar project is being developed in Alice Springs, further reinforcing Alice Springs position as a major hub for the renewable energy industry. The Solar Technology Demonstration Facility (STDF) is being developed within the Desert Knowledge (DKP) Precinct to demonstrate a range of solar energy technologies suitable for application industrial, commercial and residential environments.

The facility will be highly visible and easily accessible to the public. The facility will demonstrate a range of different technologies in a fully operational, commercially scaled, situation; provide training facilitates for the maintenance and support of solar technologies; compliment the work of Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) and provide a ready stream of performance data for a range of technologies in a unique environment.

Contruction of STDF will begin in May 2008, and commissioning of the first installations will be completed in June 2008. The majority of the technologies will be completed by November 2008 with the final installation of two prototype high efficiency concentrating PV dishes in January.

The facility includes data logging of all systems both at a mains end and from the inverter along with data from a site weather station. Data is publicly available in agregated and raw format via an innovative web interface.

Data comparisons and initial assesments of the performance of the different PV technologies installed will be provided during the presentation.

The project is funded by the Australian Government and has been designed and project managed by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT).