THE ACT Government wants to see massive “next generation” solar technology built in Canberra to capture and store energy, according to the latest in a string of announcements about renewable energy projects from the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell.

Mr Corbell said the Government would run an expression of interest process later this year “to identify potential sites and scope next generation energy systems to form the basis of a 50 megawatt solar technology innovation precinct”, in a press release issued just after 9am today.

The proposed 50-megawatt facility would be larger than any of three other large scale solar farms the Government has already approved, with capacities of 7 megawatts, 13 megawatts and 20 megawatts respectively, and would be able to store energy.

The minister hopes that as well as generating large amounts of power and storing it, the “solar technology innovation precinct” will attract external funding for research and development and build partnerships with local research institutions and businesses “to help position the Canberra economy as an innovation centre in the global renewable energy revolution”.