One example is the project’s failure to build a permanent power supply to the telescope at the Australian site, which is now being run on temporary diesel generators.
The SKAO website claims power for the project’s central processing plant “is provided by a photovoltaic plant [solar] and energy storage system backed up by diesel generators, generating renewable energy a majority of the time to power the antennas and all site infrastructure”.
However, no solar plant has yet been built. The project is yet to award a tender for the power plant and is allegedly spending more than $1m a year on diesel to power the plant.
A tender document published by the SKAO in March reveals that a “phase one” diesel-operated system for the site is “expected to be operational in early 2026”, with the tender seeking interest to build a “phase two” power plant to integrate renewable energy.
The scope and schedule of the SKA project, a massive undertaking to deliver the world’s two largest and most complex radio telescopes, are under constant review
SKAO spokesperson
The SKAO spokesperson confirmed that the project would be running on diesel generators until the long-term solar-based plant was operational – expected in late 2028.
“An expert team is implementing a complex multi-stage power procurement process that will result in a long-term power purchase agreement with an independent power provider to build and operate a radio quiet power station with a very high fraction of power generated from solar photovoltaic cells and using a substantial battery energy storage system.”
remotelove @lemmy.ca - 4mon
It's not like that thing has an ROI, financially speaking. Turn it off, save the gas money and finish the project. While it could miss some events in the near term, the universe isn't going anywhere anytime soon as far as I am aware.
Unfortunately, usually when it's government budgets, money needs to be burned to justify further budget allocation in the future. From that perspective, it makes perfect sense to keep using diesel to power the place while the project gets delayed while also extending salaries for as long as possible. Funds probably aren't getting mismanaged though. If this project involves multiple nations, I don't even want to know what an approval process even looks like or how long a project change approval would take.
2
Gorgritch_Umie_Killa - 4mon
Yeah, i didn't really see a strong case for mismanagement of funds in the report, maybe theres more to the story unable to be reported yet.
I found it a good, and realistic update of the project though. I don't really hear much about it throughout the year. Sometimes i'll catch their talks at Astrofest, but haven't been able to this last couple years.
Gorgritch_umie_killa in perth
A giant telescope was supposed to answer the universe’s big questions. Now the project has been rocked by misconduct claims
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/22/square-kilometre-array-observatory-skao-western-australia-radio-telescope-misconduct-allegations-ntwnfbWell, this parts disappointing,
It's not like that thing has an ROI, financially speaking. Turn it off, save the gas money and finish the project. While it could miss some events in the near term, the universe isn't going anywhere anytime soon as far as I am aware.
Unfortunately, usually when it's government budgets, money needs to be burned to justify further budget allocation in the future. From that perspective, it makes perfect sense to keep using diesel to power the place while the project gets delayed while also extending salaries for as long as possible. Funds probably aren't getting mismanaged though. If this project involves multiple nations, I don't even want to know what an approval process even looks like or how long a project change approval would take.
Yeah, i didn't really see a strong case for mismanagement of funds in the report, maybe theres more to the story unable to be reported yet.
I found it a good, and realistic update of the project though. I don't really hear much about it throughout the year. Sometimes i'll catch their talks at Astrofest, but haven't been able to this last couple years.