Queensland

SUSI Partners AG has fully acquired and provided financing to construct a 34 MW solar PV plant with storage optionality located in Middlemount, Queensland. The investment firm says it views the Australian market as highly attractive, despite policy uncertainty.

UK-based renewable energy developer Eco Energy World has reached financial close on two Queensland projects – the 20 MW Chinchila Solar Farm and the 34 MW Brigalow Solar Farm. Combined, the projects constitute nearly $70 million in capex.

Owing to its state-based renewable energy initiatives, Victoria is in the box seat to create more than 6,000 jobs annually, shows a new analysis released by Green Energy Markets. Overall, renewable energy generation managed to exceed 25% of power supply for the first time across Australia’s main grids.   

Sydney-based publicly listed Genex Power has announced it has received a development approval for a 250 MW pumped storage hydro project, as part of its landmark renewable energy hub in far-north Queensland.

German-headquartered project developer juwi Renewable Energy has inked an agreement with the University of Queensland to deliver a solar+storage hybrid power solution at its research station located in the Great Barrier Reef.

Aevitas will design and construct a 3.6 MW solar PV array for Australia’s largest cotton producer. The Cubbie Solar Project will supply 40% of Cubbie’s electricity demand, during its peak ginning season between April and September.

Chinese module maker Risen Energy has begun major earthworks and site preparation before mounting system installation at the 121.5 MW Yarranlea project in Queensland. While Risen has not tapped local financing for the project, indeed any outside finance at all, the company has highlighted its local contractor workforce, in a statement today.

As the federal government aims to ink a deal with the states on the National Energy Guarantee in August, it appears still to be negotiating within its own ranks. The ANU’s Mathew Stocks and Andrew Blakers crunch the numbers to assess whether coal or renewables will pay off for costs and jobs in Queensland.

Australia is set to quadruple its utility-scale PV capacity in 2018, with a 2 GW pipeline. The effects of the expansion are now beginning to show, as projects come online. So far just 0.1 MW of the 2018 pipeline are fully operational, but as of July this is going to change.

Chinese PV module maker Risen Energy has begun construction on the 121 MW Yarranlea project in Queensland. The company intends to have complete control of the project, from module supply, through to EPC, ownership and operation.