EnviroMission Limited

Recent Media Releases

12 August 2002

Wentworth Shire Council
Media release
Date: Tuesday, 12 August, 2002
FILE: S182

Plenty of Solar Tower interest

WENTWORTH Shire Council’s solar tower information web pages are receiving plenty of attention; interest this month peaking at 900 ‘hits’ in one day!
Mayor, Cr Don McKinnon, welcomed the statistic, describing it as indicative of the growing interest in the multi-million dollar landmark development.

Website statistics show a rush of international interest about the project caused the peak. This has been attributed to a web-based forum discussion about tall structures like skyscrapers and presumably the tower.

The peak on one day was unusual, but the solar tower pages are becoming one of the Shire website’s most frequently visited information services ranking third behind the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens and the Shire’s news service.

The Shire’s tower information pages are linked directly with those of EnviroMission, the Australian-based company driving the project, and delivering a comprehensive overview of the project.

The website has received more than 25,000 visits (or hits) to date in 2002.

"It really shows the value of the web as an information source," Mayor, McKinnon said.

"Our experience with the Solar Tower is showing that it is a great way for the Shire to reach its residents and keep them informed."

Mayor McKinnon said there was "a buzz" in the community about the project with more and more people wanting additional information.

"And the significance of this project can not be overstated," he said.
"It will be an economic boom for everyone involved and the wider community too!"

Construction of the world's largest solar-powered electric generating plant could begin on Tapio Station as soon as January 2003.

EnviroMission, the Australian company seeking to undertake the mammoth project, has committed to Tapio Station as it's preferred Australian site.

EnviroMission owns the exclusive Australian licence to the revolutionary German technology that can generate 200MW of clean, green, renewable energy for about 200,000 households.

More than $US37 million has already been invested to prove the viability of Solar Tower technology through research and development, pilot plant operations and feasibility studies for commercial plant construction.

The figures for the project itself are equally impressive. The tower complex cost, without attendant infrastructure, is estimated at $700 million. The tower itself will be one kilometre high - the tallest man-made structure on Earth and incorporate 700,000 cubic metres of concrete; while the accompanying 'green house' will have a radius of 3.5 kilometres, cover about 10,000 hectares and require 38 million square metres of covering.

The project is expected to generate 2700 jobs, many of them for local laborers during the 34-month construction phase and provide between 15 and 40 ongoing jobs.

The Mayor has promised EnviroMission the Shire will do everything in its power to assist in the next phase of its push for the tower - stimulating State and Federal Government interest and support while overcoming any impediments.

Ends…

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