The Coober Pedy Solar Power Station was planned to be Australia’s largest off-grid solar power station, located at remote Coober Pedy in South Australia’s far north. The project would cost $7.1 million and the Australian Government promised providing $3.55 million under its Renewable Remote Power Generation program. When completed at the end of 2009, the power station was to consist of 26 solar dishes, each one 14 metres high, which would track the arc of the sun. The power plant was to generate about 1860 megawatt hours a year, 13 per cent of Coober Pedy’s total electricity requirements. It would cut diesel fuel consumption by up to 520,000 litres a year, saving 1,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government had negotiations with two proponents and failed to convince either of the viability of the project. The project never went ahead.