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CEC issues warning over ‘collapse’ in new Australian renewables investment
Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC) has issued a stark warning over an apparent collapse in new investments into renewable energy projects. In a new policy briefing paper, dubbed ‘Australia’s Clean Energy Investment Outlook’, released today, the CEC has said that financial commitments to new renewables projects in the country amounted to just 800MW in each of the first two quarters of 2019. This is a far cry from the 4,500MW committed to in late 2019, and tantamount to levels not seen since Liberal politician Tony Abbott was the country’s prime minister. Figures included in the report note that the collapse from Q1 2019 to Q2 2019 is most stark. Just four large-scale renewables projects, with a total generation capacity of around 600MW, came forward in that quarter. Image: Clean Energy Council. CEC's briefing paper pointed to a growing policy void and the growing threat of government interference in the energy market as principal reasons behind the collapse. Furthermore, the document argues that with the proliferation of utility-scale batteries being committed across the country and a large number of pumped hydro storage projects being investigated, the addition of significant quantities of new renewable capacity could theoretically be supported. In excess of 500MW of battery capacity has been financially committed in the country, while more than 9GW of pumped hydro potential has been identified. It has left investor confidence in the Australian large-scale renewables and energy storage sectors “fragile”, the report argues, and puts Australian citizens at risk of future power price hikes, the trade body said. “With Australia’s coal-fired power stations ageing rapidly, it is essential new clean energy projects are built now to ensure lower power prices and improved reliability when these old clunkers retire from service,” Kane Thornton, chief executive at the CEC, said. In addition to a burgeoning policy gap, the CEC said that large-scale renewables projects were having to confront regulatory barriers relating to the country’s grid, a set of rules which the trade body dismissed as “no longer fit-for-purpose”. “The industry is working closely with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the networks to address many of these issues in the short term, but a lot of the problems we are seeing now are symptoms of the underlying issues – the need for strategic investment in the electricity network to service the best zones for renewable energy across the country and unlock more cheap, clean power. “There is no excuse for a slow-down in investment in renewable energy as the industry begins unlocking the enormous potential of energy storage across Australia, effectively complementing renewable energy projects, Thornton added. The report has prompted Solar Citizens, a community-based renewables campaign group, to launch a nationwide petition calling on the Australia government to close the policy void by replacing the Renewable Energy Target with a new, national energy policy.
Sep 11, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Storage, Grids, Policy, Battery Storage, Australia, Oceania, investment, renewable energy target, Kane Thornton
Australian tech billionaire to help fund 10 GW Sun Cable Project
The Sun Cable Project would aim to deliver 20% of Singapore’s energy from the Australian Outback. “I’m backing it,” Cannon-Brookes told the
Sep 27, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, USA, Australia, Asia, Oceania, Scott Morrison, Singapore, Donald Trump, North America, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Sun Cable Project, McDonald’s, Vanessa Petrie, Beyond Zero Emissions
'World's biggest green energy fund' sets sights on US$ 16bn investment pot
with talks continuous with possible factors in Europe, America, Asia, Australia and also Israel. Along with CIP's very own dedications, the fund's last pot
Jun 16, 2020 // Markets & Finance News, pv power plants, solar pv, Europe, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Denmark, solar finance, investment fund, CIP
New South Wales Approves Major Solar-BESS Project
Park Project- Location: Situated in the Yass Valley area of New South Wales, Australia, the Wallaroo solar park takes advantage of the area's favorable solar
Sep 16, 2024 // Storage, new south wales
Lightsource bp Secures Approval for 450-MW Solar Project
bp has received approval from the Australian federal government for its Goulburn River Solar Farm project in New South Wales, which will feature a 450-MW
Oct 9, 2024 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Lightsource BP, PV Power Plant
Iberdrola Signs Renewable PPA with NSW Regional Councils
Australia has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply over 390 GWh of renewable energy to 13 regional councils in New South Wales through 2030. The
Nov 19, 2024 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Iberdrola
TotalEnergies Pursues 320-MW Solar-Battery Project in NSW
approval for a significant renewable energy project in New South Wales, Australia. The proposed project aims to develop a solar-battery park with a capacity of
Feb 4, 2025 // Storage, new south wales, TotalEnergies
Australian developer ESCO Pascific sells 49% of their stake to Shell
more stakes in Lightsource. Lightsource is building two 100MW projects in
Dec 17, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Australia, Oceania, shell, ESCO Pascific, erm power
Capital Dynamics reaches monetary close for Eagle Shadow Mountain project
in credit report facilities led by MUFG Union Bank, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia as well as Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation also providing a letter of
Dec 3, 2020 // Markets & Finance News, Capital Dynamics, USA, PV project, North America, Benjamin Droz
Tianqi's Australian Lithium Plant Costs Double
Lithium is encountering expense overruns and delays at its Kwinana refinery in Australia besides struggling to repay financial obligation. Tianqi's financial
Dec 19, 2020 // Market Research, BNEF, China, Australia, Asia, Oceania, Tianqi Lithium
Tracker provider Sunfolding selects new CEO
concurrently. The firm ships its trackers throughout North America as well as Australia. Sunfolding CTO and also creator Leila Madrone said: "As Sunfolding's growth
Jan 14, 2021 // Markets & Finance News, USA, Australia, Oceania, North America, single-axis trackers, Sunfolding, executive appointments, Leila Madrone, Glen Davis, Jurgen Krehnke
Ampyr Solar will certainly establish 4 GW PV projects throughout Germany, the Netherlands and UK
energy system, with procedures and also properties in Europe, India and Australia. Hartree Partners is a seller products strong being experts in energy as well
Feb 3, 2021 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Germany, UK, Europe, Netherlands, Ampyr Solar, Naga Solar Holding BV
Canadian Solar partners with Macquarie for Japanese PV push
in markets such as Japan, Western Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Australia as well as New
Feb 17, 2021 // Markets & Finance News, Japan, Canadian Solar, Asia, Macquarie Group, Shawn Qu, Japan Green Infrastructure Fund, JGIF
AC Energy JV starts building 300-MW solar farm in India
MW of attributable capacity in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia. It is additionally creating an 18,000-MW renewable energy pipeline
Jan 31, 2022 // Plants, India, Asia, solar farm, AC Energy Corp
New photovoltaic panel brand Star Solar to go for RE+.
property owners and also businesses.". Star Solar modules are manufactured in Australia. The company does want to one day bring producing to the
Sep 15, 2022 // Manufacturing News, solar panel, Star Solar, Lexie Lucas