Swiss investment manager closes first Australian solar project
SUSI Partners AG has fully acquired and provided financing to construct a 34 MW solar PV plant with storage optionality located in Middlemount, Queensland. The investment firm says it views the Australian market as highly attractive, despite policy uncertainty.
NSW in line for 4 GW solar, wind and battery hybrid project
Australian developers Energy Estate and MirusWind have proposed a massive renewable energy hub in New South Wales. The project will combine wind and solar energy generation with pumped hydro storage and other storage options to provide up to 4 GW of new clean generation.
Eco Energy World secures financing for two merchant projects
UK-based renewable energy developer Eco Energy World has reached financial close on two Queensland projects – the 20 MW Chinchila Solar Farm and the 34 MW Brigalow Solar Farm. Combined, the projects constitute nearly $70 million in capex.
Newcastle breaks ground on 5 MW solar farm at former coal mine site
The Newcastle City Council has begun construction on a 5 MW Summerhill solar farm located on a disused landfill that was once part of a coal mine.
Electrical Trades Union issues ‘stop to work’ on RCR Tomlinson Victorian projects
The Victorian Branch of the Electrical Trades Union has called on RCR Tomlinson to “immediately pay arrears” owed to contractors in Victorian projects. The union has questioned reports that PV projects, such as the Wemen Solar Farm, are nearing completion.
Victoria: Second big battery commissioned ahead of schedule, Gannawarra and Wemen Solar Farm now operating
Only weeks after Victoria’s first big battery was unveiled in Ballarat, the retrofitted 25MW/50MWh Tesla powerpack battery at the Gannawarra Solar Farm was commissioned ahead of schedule, confirms Germany’s Wirsol Energy. The developer’s major solar projects in Victoria have reached milestones: the 60 MW Ganawarra Solar Farm has successfully passed all commissioning tests, and the 110 MW Wemen Solar Farm has been connected to the grid.
Sunseap to build 5 MW floating PV at sea
Project developer Sunseap has announced plans for one of the world’s largest PV systems floating on seawater, to be built in the Johor strait which separates Singapore and Malaysia. The 5 MW system is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.
John Laing achieves financial close on Finley Solar Farm
After taking a 90.1% stake in one of Australia’s largest solar PV projects – the 255 MWp Sunraysia Solar Farm last month, U.K.-based infrastructure investor John Laing has closed its second solar project in Australia – the 174.9 MWp Finley Solar Farm in New South Wales.
Solar farm approved at Vales Point coal-fired power station
The NSW Department of Planning has given the green light the 55 MW Vales Point solar project, one of the first large scale solar power plant in Australia to operate in conjunction with a coal-fired power station.
Bungala Solar Farm goes fully online as Australia’s biggest solar project to date
After being commissioned in stages, the Bungala Solar Farm near Port Augusta in South Australia is now fully operational. At 220 MW/275 MWdc, Bungala is Australia’s largest solar farm completed to date.
