Utility Scale PV

A newcomer to Australian solar, Indonesia’s Terregra Renewables, has appointed Balance Utility Solutions to carry out EPC activities on a 5 MW solar farm north of Murray Bridge in South Australia.

Canadian Solar will provide EPC services, under a JV partnership with Singal Energy, for the 175 MW Finlay Solar Farm in southern NSW. The Chinese manufacturer will also supply modules to the project – which is notable for having signed the largest single PPA in the Australian marketplace.

Commercial electricity retailer Flow Power has signed an offtake deal for more than a half of the production from the 120 MW Bomen Solar Farm near Wagga Wagga to power one of the nation’s largest vineyard owners, Australian Vintage, and a major snack food manufacturer, Snack Brands.

Major reports from Australia’s chief energy institutions point to the importance of wind and solar not just because of their climate credentials, but also the economic benefits they bring. A report from the energy market operator and the CSIRO finds based on analysis of LCOE that renewables are the cheapest new-built power. A separate report from the Australian Energy Market Commission shows that wind and solar will give a typical household a saving of $55 a year in next two years.

With NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin drawing a line on energy and climate policy between the state Liberals and the feds, the NSW government continues to pursue its renewables agenda waving through another large-scale solar project.

Sydney-based publicly listed Genex Power has signed an agreement with electricity provider EnergyAustralia to begin construction on the 250 MW pumped hydro project as part of the Kidston renewables hub in north Queensland. Genex is now looking to secure financing for a 270 MW solar component of the project.

The Lyon Group is partnering with Japanese energy giant JERA and battery technology provider Fluence to deliver the 55 MW Cape York Battery Power Plant. The $150 million solar+storage project secured its generator performance standard, clearing the way for construction to begin in early 2019.

Vales Point coal-fired power station owner, Delta Electricity, will purchase most of the output of the 275 MW Darlington Solar Farm in New South Wales under a deal that both sides see as a demonstration of the growing role of renewable energy.

After granting an approval for a major solar+storage project at Darlington Point this week, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment has greenlit two more utility-scale solar PV projects – the 170 MW Suntop Solar Farm and the 47 MW Gregadoo Solar Farm.

The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment has given the green light to a massive solar farm coupled with a utility-scale energy storage facility. The project proposed by Edify Energy is valued at $407 million.