Utility Scale PV

Solar farms in New South Wales led the way for Australia’s utility scale PV energy output in a record-breaking month of March, generating 670 GWh of clean energy to drive all Australian large-scale PV and wind generation up 17% on the same time last year.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has acquired a majority stake in Elgin Energy that will help the Ireland-headquartered solar developer to transition into an independent power producer and grow its pipeline of projects in new and existing markets, including Australia.

The Malaysian government has kicked off a 2 GW solar tender featuring four packages of rooftop, ground-mount, and floating solar, with permitted generation capacities ranging from 1 MW to 500 MW.

Malaysian engineering and infrastructure company Gamuda has announced it will shift its focus in Australia to the clean energy and renewables infrastructure market, laying out plans to build a 1 to 2 GW portfolio of solar and wind projects in the next five years.

Former federal energy minister Greg Combet has indicated the May Budget will unleash big bucks for the next stage of Australia’s renewable energy transition, underwriting the nation’s charge to become a global wind, solar and green hydrogen superpower.

Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, and New South Wales were over-performing solar regions in March. This overperformance in the southeast and southwest came despite most of the Australian continent seeing below-average irradiance, due to thicker-than-usual clouds over the sparsely-populated interior and tropics.

Beijing Energy International’s push into the Australian renewable energy market continues at pace with the China-based company striking a deal to acquire energy retailer TPC.

Adelaide-based PV manufacturer Tindo Solar is expected to be among the first applicants for a grant from the Australian government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot program as it looks to scale up its production capacity to compete in a growing domestic market dominated by imports.

Singapore-headquartered renewable energy infrastructure developer Metis Energy has locked in a renewables supply contract for its first major Australian project – the 94 MW Gunsynd Solar Farm being built in southwest Queensland.

New Zealand renewables developer Lightyears Solar has announced it will roll out three new community-scale PV farms with a combined capacity of 18 MW after completing a $5.51 million (NZD 6 million) capital raise.