South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill has announced that construction on a new solar thermal plant in Port Augusta will commence next year and the plant will be ready to go in 2020.

"Importantly, this project will deliver more than 700 jobs, with requirements for local workers," said Mr. Weatherill, describing the project as "the biggest of its kind in the world".

Solar thermal power plants use a series of mirrors to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a tower that heats molten salt, which is then used to generate steam, which then drives a turbine generator to produce electricity.  In this case, a lot of electricity - enough to satisfy the state's needs.  And because the maximum Government load is 125MW, the plant is projected to be able to supply other customers.

"This, in addition to our state-owned gas plant, and the world's largest lithium iron battery, will help to make our energy grid more secure," said Weatherill as quoted by the ABC.