I was interested to read at ABC Online yesterday, that Greenpeace has thrown its support behind ambitious plans for a solar powered water desalination plant in Whyalla, South Australia.
I have previously only heard environmental groups criticise such projects – generally suggesting we should just consume less water. Has there been any support for the wind-powered desal plant that I understand will be build for Perth? How advanced is this project?
According to the ABC Online report Whyalla Local councillor Eddie Hughes says desalination plants usually use huge amounts of power and generate greenhouse gases, but solar power would stop this from happening.
He says the plan already has substantial backing from the private sector and would have many benefits for the local community.
“Those benefits would be enormous. This would be the first plant of its type in Australia and if the pilot plant is successful it will demonstrate an environmentally friendly way of not just generating electricity but also providing desalinated water,” he said.
“Greenpeace has used this, what we’ve proposed for Whyalla, as an example of the sort of approach that we should be taking nationally and internationally.”
Whyalla is the largest provincial city in South Australia and the northern gateway to the Eyre Peninsula. It is known for its heavy industry, particularly the enormous iron and steel works.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.