Financial close for 202 MW: A joint venture between Harmony Energy Limited and First Renewables Limited has achieved financial close on what is being touted as the largest solar farm in New Zealand with 202 MW installed capacity. The syndicated debt facility was provided by ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and MUFG Bank. The Tauhei Solar Farm is planned to be constructed on 182 hectares near Te Aroha in the North Island. It will generate 280 GWh of electricity annually. Construction on site is scheduled to begin later this year and commissioning is due in late 2026. Elecnor has been appointed as the EPC contractor. Power generated on completion will be sold to Meridian Energy for the initial 10 years.
Sembcorp forays into Filipino RE sector: Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries has forayed into the renewable energy market of the Philippines via an acquisition. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Energy Philippines recently signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of CleanCurrent Renewable Energy Inc’s (CREI) shared in Puente Al Sol Inc. The deal is worth SGD 105 million ($77.3 million). Puente is currently developing a 96 MW solar farm in the Cadiz region of the Philippines, slated to enter commercial operations later this year.
Solar for Japanese airports: Japanese financial services group ORIX Corporation has completed the installation of 22.8 MW solar power generation capacity for Kansai International Airport and around 600 kW for Osaka International Airport in Japan. It says these projects mark one of the largest onsite power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the country. The projects have started supplying power to the airports starting February 1, 2025, which will be consumed onsite by the airports.
ARENA funding for DER: The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced AUD 20.8 million ($12.9 million) in funding to Western Power for the development of an end-to-end commercial solution focused on distributed energy resources (DER). This project Jupiter is coming up within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia. It will be the first live DER marketplace in Australia integrated with the wholesale market, according to ARENA. DER involves the use of renewable energy generation – for instance, rooftop solar, energy storage, electric vehicles (EV) and technology – that consumers can use at their premises to manage their electricity demand.
Western Power’s Head of Distribution Energy Transition Andrew Blaver said, “This project will enable more consumers to join VPPs using their solar panels and home batteries, revolutionising how our energy system operates. By 2028, all new distributed energy resources (DER) connected to WA’s network will be able to participate in a VPP, allowing households to unlock greater value from their energy investments.
EPBC nod sought for 320 MW AC solar in NSW: French energy giant TotalEnergies says its Middlebrook Solar Farm has been referred under New South Wales’ (NSW) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in Australia. The project will have a potential capacity of up to 320 MW AC, accompanied by a large AC-coupled battery with up to 300 MW/780 MWh capacity. In November 2024, the project was accorded conditional approval by NSW’s Independent Planning Commission (see Asia Pacific Solar PV Snippets: STMicroelectronics & Engie Enter Solar PPA In Malaysia & More).
Funds for 6.7 MW DC in Japan: Shizen Energy has signed a project finance agreement with The Daishi Hokuetsu Bank of Japan to raise development funds worth JPY 1 billion ($6.45 million) for its 6.7 MW DC solar capacity at 4 locations in Japan. This capacity is located in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures. All 4 projects will supply clean energy to 5 of Bourbon’s factories in Niigata Prefecture under an off-site corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between Bourbon, Shizen and Summit Energy in 2024. Out of the 4 projects, the 3.3 kW DC/1.99 kW AC capacity Kashiwazaki Matsunami Solar Power Plant has been operational since April 2024, while 1.91 kW DC/1.5 kW AC Fukasawamachi Solar Power Plant and the 571.8 kW DC/400 kW AC Yamagata Shinjo Solar Power Plant were commissioned in October 2024. The 921.2 kW DC/700 kW AC Makibuchi Solar Power Plant project is scheduled to enter services in October 2025.