“Arguably a world first:” Historic solar thermal plant lines up for heritage listing

The White Cliffs Solar Power Station, the first commercially operated solar thermal power station in Australia, is under consideration for heritage listing.

The New South Wales government officially began soliciting feedback on the White Cliffs Solar Power Station heritage listing nomination over the weekend, publishing a survey on its ‘Have your say’ website.

As the first commercially operated solar thermal power station in NSW and one of the earliest of its kind in the world, the White Cliffs Solar Power Station is being considered for listing and may meet the criteria for state heritage significance.

Built in 1980 by a team from the Australian National University in the small town of White Cliffs in outback NSW – chosen for having the highest level of solar insolation in the state – the solar power station consists of 14 parabolic dishes, each covered with more than 2,000 mirrors to focus the sun’s rays on a nearby collector.

Power generated by the station creates superheated steam to drive a single phase 37kVA alternator that produces power for the town.

Though it was converted to water cooled photovoltaic cells in 1997, the site was eventually shut down in 2005.

A year later, Engineers Australia placed a physical heritage marker at the site recognising the fact that, given the “electricity was sold to the local community”, the White Cliffs Solar Power Station was “arguably the world’s first commercial solar power station.”

The survey can be completed through 8 May, after which the Heritage Council will review the feedback as part of its assessment process.  

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