juwi on lookout to acquire utility-scale solar projects in Australia

The Australian arm of German project developer juwi is looking to acquire utility-scale solar PV projects in New South Wales and Victoria.

July 3, 2018 Marija Maisch

Remote communities in the NT are set to be powered by renewable energy.

Photo: Neoen

Brisbane-based renewable energy specialist juwi has announced that it is expanding its solar PV project development activities in Australia.

juwi has launched a Request for Proposal seeking to acquire large-scale solar projects from developers and landowners in New South Wales and Victoria.

“Large-scale solar PV is advancing worldwide. Solar power in Australia today already costs less than most fossil fuel options,” said Cameron Garnsworthy, Managing Director for juwi Australia, commenting on the announcement.

Landowners and project developers are invited to submit proposals by August 3, 2018.

“We look forward to working with development companies, landowners and local communities in New South Wales and Victoria towards a sustainable energy future”, Garnsworthy said.

Earlier this year, the company announced its initiative to expand project development activities beyond the off-grid/hybrid segment into utility scale PV projects.

After penetrating the Australian market in 2014 with the acquisition of Qi Power Limited focusing on a niche hybrid/off-grid segment, juwi successfully delivered Sandfire DeGrussa, a hybrid solar, storage and diesel system at a copper mine site in Western Australia.

Touted as the largest off-grid PV project in Australia, largest off-grid diesel-solar hybrid globally and the largest solar array to provide peak power at a mine site globally, DeGrussa, which comprises a 10.6 MW solar facility coupled with a 6 MWh battery facility – integrated with an existing diesel generator, reached full operation in May 2016.

Currently, it is offsetting more than 450,000 liters of diesel per month, exceeding juwi’s projection of five million liters of fuel saved per year. This adds up to more than 25 million liters of diesel saved within the 5.5-year contract period. Thereby, the effective reduction of the DeGrussa’s fuel consumption by 20% lowers the mines carbon dioxide emissions by 12,000 tons, per year.

Overall, juwi says it has delivered more than 1,600 solar projects worldwide since commencing operations 22 years ago, with an investment of more than $13 billion in wind and solar projects worldwide.

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