Utility Scale PV

Five energy infrastructure projects representing 750 MW of renewable energy generation and 524 MW/4,192 MWh of long-duration storage have been successful to the New South Wales government’s latest tender round as it prepares for the exit of coal-fired power generation from the state’s electricity grid.

Renewable energy retailer SmartestEnergy Australia and Enel Green Power Australia have signed a long-term offtake agreement for the 93 MW Girgarre Solar Farm being developed in central Victoria.

Solar developer Lightsource bp has declared that proceeds from the sale of five utility scale PV projects in Australia with a combined capacity of more than 1 GW will be used to fast track the development of a pipeline of projects across the wider Asia Pacific region.

Solar technology manufacturing heavyweight Trina Solar has secured conditional development approval from the New South Wales government for a 200 MW solar farm to be developed in the state’s southeast.

European Union member states have installed a “record-breaking” 56 GW of PV over the last 12 months – consistent with the past three years of 40% year-on-year growth, according to SolarPower Europe. But the association warns that solar’s moment in the sun could soon be over, as energy prices stabilise and project interest rates skyrocket.

Australia’s independent energy markets and power systems operator has warned urgent investment in generation, firming and transmission is needed with forecasts showing the National Electricity Market needs to almost triple its installed capacity in less than 30 years.

Philippines-based energy company ACEN Corporation plans to bolster its renewable energy initiatives in Australia after sealing a $75 million green term loan facility that will help fund the delivery of an 8 GW portfolio of solar, wind, battery storage and pumped hydro projects.

Australia’s largest telecommunications provider, Telstra, is a step closer to its goal of enabling renewable energy generation equivalent to 100% of its consumption by 2025 after inking a new 153 GWh solar offtake agreement with Global Power Generation.

Australian clean energy outfit Atmos Renewables is partnering with UK-based Nomad Energy to help develop a renewable energy project pipeline with over 1 GW of capacity in Western Australia by 2030.

Smoke from wildfires significantly effects solar output, researchers from UNSW have found. Specifically, Australia’s Black Summer in 2019 – 2020 caused energy losses from residential and utility PV systems estimated between 175 to 35 GWh, equating to a worst-case financial loss of around $6.1 to $29 million.