Utility Scale PV

The developers that emerged as winners in the Victorian government’s first renewable energy auction have confirmed receiving support agreements from the state to ensure revenue certainty for the projects. The companies have also outlined their construction plans, some of which even include batteries.

Although initially expected to deliver around 650 MW, Victoria’s first renewable energy auction has smashed the goal, delivering 928 MW of renewable capacity. Six projects will be developed in total, three wind and three solar, under the state’s renewable energy target. In a separate announcement, the Andrews government promised to provide half price solar batteries for 10,000 Victorian households, if re-elected.

The Sydney-based publicly-listed developer is planning to finance construction of the 50 MW Jemalong solar project either on a merchant basis given the strong NSW price forecast, or under a potential offtake arrangement.

Chinese wind turbine supplier and project developer Goldwind is looking to offload its Australian wind and large scale solar development pipeline, according to reporting from the Australian Financial Review. The move amounts to one of the first international players looking to exit the Australian renewables marketplace in the face of policy chaos.

Clearway Energy Group has been formed from NRG’s renewable energy businesses and SunPower’s project pipeline. The move echoes GIP’s acquisition of Equis Energy, which now renamed Vena Energy is developing a GW-scale pipeline in Australia.

If all planned renewable energy projects were to proceed, Queensland would be in line for a $24 billion injection into the state’s economy and over 35,000 new jobs, argues a new Solar Citizens report.

Research conducted over several years by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrates that air pollution in cities can put a dampener on the performance of PV panels which, if not taken into account, can threaten a project’s viability.

The addition of 7,200 MW of large-scale renewable energy supply since the closure of coal-fired power plants in 2016 in expected to almost halve wholesale electricity price over the next four years, shows the latest analysis from Green Energy Markets.

Thailand-based Modern Energy Management (MEM) says it has teamed up with an undisclosed investor to develop a 130 MWp solar PV project in Myanmar. It is expected to come online in Q4 2019. Overall, the country is said to have a large-scale solar pipeline totaling 1.5 GW.

Speculations that delayed financial results spelled troubles have proved remarkably accurate – one of Australia’s leading EPC contractors has taken a huge write-down on two Queensland solar projects, and reported $16 million net loss.