Interview: China’s PV developers see opportunities in Australian market growth
Chinese PV component suppliers and project developers are continuing to push strongly in to international markets and are eyeing up new opportunities in Australia. Tenders, hybrid arrays and agri-PV all represent opportunities.
Uncertainty reigns for WA under NEG
The future of solar deployment in Western Australia remains uncertain under the Federal Government’s National Energy Guarantee policy. Excluded from the program, WA solar proponents report that market conditions “may get even harder” for PV in the state.
CEFC provides debt finance for Australia’s first wind+solar+storage array
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide $94 million as the sole debt financier of Australia’s first co-developed wind, solar and storage array. The 60 MW Kennedy Energy Park is being developed by Windlab and Eurus Energy and will combine 43.2 MW in wind capacity, 15 MW of solar PV, and 2 MWh of battery storage.
Energy intensity, security in with the NEG as the CET fades away
Australia’s Turnbull government has finally plotted a course in terms of a post-2020 energy policy, announcing its National Energy Guarantee mechanism. The move means it is ignoring the recommendations of its own electricity market review conducted by its Chief Scientist, which had advocated for a Clean Energy Target.
Queensland receives huge response to 400 MW renewables and 100 MW storage tender
The tender was part of a raft of announcements, including confirmation of a commitment to source 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Queensland is fast emerging as a large scale solar hotspot, with hundreds of megawatts either having reached financial close or currently under construction.
UK’s Foresight to acquire 117 MW Australian PV from Canadian Solar
British firm to invest $64 million to acquire assets being developed in Queensland by Canadian Solar.
CS Energy signs PPA for 60 MW Australian PV+storage+wind hybrid energy park
The $150 million agreement between the government-owned CS Energy and the Kennedy Energy Park marks yet another positive step for Australia as as hybrid large scale solutions move into the market.
SolarEdge targets “waking” C&I market
The highest rooftop penetration rates globally have not discouraged optimizer and inverter supplier SolarEdge from continuing to push hard into the Australian PV marketplace. Describing the market as “mature” and featuring “deep and rich sales models”, SolarEdge Founder Lior Handlesman said there are still plenty of rooftops to which solar can be added, in particular in the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment.
Enel breaks ground on 137.7 MW solar plant in South Australia
The $157 million project will be built with 420,000 multicrystalline modules mounted on single-axis tracker near Port Augusta.
Adani Australia signs PPA for first stage of Rugby Run project in Queensland
Adani Australia is planning to construct a 300 MW PV power plant at Rugby Run in Queensland. It has signed a PPA for the first 65 MW phase of the project.
