Australia to triple solar power capacity

• 7 years ago (2016-09-09)
• David Flin

North America 998 Renewables 751

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The Australian Government has said it will help fund a dozen large-scale solar projects worth $770 million, as it looks to boost the use of clean power. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) said that the projects would triple Australia’s large-scale solar capacity to 720 MW, and deliver 10 per cent of the new capacity to meet its 2020 renewable energy target.

The government will provide A$92 million ($71 million) for the 12 projects, which includes three proposals from private French firm Neoen, and one each from Thailand’s Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, and Infigen Energy.

Ivor Frischknecht, CEO of Arena, said that the government’s tenders to back solar projects have helped build momentum in the industry, and forced companies to become more competitive, which will help push the sector closer to being commercially viable. He said: “We aren’t quite there yet, but the commercial viability of large-scale solar in Australia is tantalisingly close, and the question is now ‘how soon’ rather than ‘if’ or ‘how long’.”

The biggest plant to be offered funding was a 105 MW project, set to be Australia’s largest solar farm, which Origin Energy plans to start building near its gas-fired Darling Downs power station in Queensland in 2017.