Utility Scale PV

A new report drafted by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre shows that global solar energy investments overshadowed all other forms of electricity generation in 2017. China is leading the pack of the world’s largest renewables investors, followed by Australia, Mexico and Sweden.

After the 50 MW Stage 1 solar farm was switched on late last year, the Kidston renewable energy hub has now received a development approval for 270 MW of solar, which is to be co-located with a 250 MW pumped storage hydro project.

From just a handful of large-scale solar PV projects a few years ago, Australia is becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. With a substantial project pipeline, the country is in the box seat to experience a banner year in 2018, with the 2020 Renewable Energy Target (RET) now in hand and a new policy taking shape for the period beyond.

The Chinese technology firm has inked an agreement with EPC provider Biosar for a solar farm in Queensland, estimated at around US$ 30 million – a significant deal for the company’s thriving solar PV division.

5,056 MW of large scale solar and wind are currently being built in Australia. The latest figures from Green Energy Markets shows that the total passed the 5 GW milestone for the first time in February.

UK-Dutch renewables developer Infinergy has sold the Metz Solar Farm, currently under development. While developer Infinergy Pacifc, a subsidiary of UK-based Infinergy, has not disclosed the buyer, the project’s website now lists it as a Clenergy project.

After the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provided an extra $25 million to match the Victorian government’s funding offer, the state of Victoria is now in line for two large-scale, grid-connected batteries, one of which will be coupled with an existing solar farm.

Carnegie Clean Energy will rely on Large-scale Generation Certificate (LGC) and WA capacity market payments on top of wholesale electricity prices on the SWIS to make its 10 MW Northam solar project work. The company broke ground on the project yesterday, in a ceremony attended by WA treasurer and energy minister Ben Wyatt.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd. has signed PPAs for two large-scale, grid-connected solar projects in Malaysia.

Annual solar installations grew almost 20% year over year in 2017, and the solar industry is also edging within 100 gigawatts, a milestone the industry will reach this year, according to IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.