RE boost in Visayas: Renewable energy is set to play a major role in one of the main island groups of the Philippines, Visayas, accounting for a majority of the total 25 committed energy projects, representing 1.982 GW, slated to come online in 2024 and 2025. Solar energy has the highest rated capacity at 38.37% of projects, followed by wind with 26.01%, and 15.64% of battery energy storage systems (BESS), according to the country’s Department of Energy (DOE) as reported by local media. The remaining RE projects represent geothermal, hydro, and biomass technologies. As of May 2024, the Visayas region had 76 power plants with a total dependable capacity of 3.334 GW with renewable energy accounting for 49%.
100 MW AC solar project in New Zealand: Renewable energy projects EPC company Bison Energy New Zealand has started pre-construction feasibility work on the Norwood Solar Farm with 115 MW DC/100 AC capacity. The project is coming up in the Canterbury region of Aotearoa’s South Island. Once it is approved, it will be co-located next to the newly commissioned TransPower/Orion NorwoodGXP. Bison recently also performed pullout tests for tracking solar piles for its 35 MW Somerton Solar Farm, near Rakaia. Both these projects are greenfield developments by the company whose global headquarters is in Tokyo. Bison is also working on another 100 MW+ project in New Zealand’s Canterbury, with several smaller projects to be announced in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Bison Energy connected a 6.44 MW Bostock Creek Solar Farm to the grid in neighboring Australia. It is currently in the commissioning phase. This project in South West Victoria will produce approximately 11,000 MWh annually once it is online.
NSW clears 100 MW solar farm: The New South Wales (NSW) Independent Planning Commission has approved the Wallaroo Solar Farm with 100 MW solar and 45 MW/90 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The commission called it a State Significant Development with the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power close to 40,000 homes. The project is located near Wallaroo, adjacent to the NSW and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) border and within the Yass Valley local government area. The project was objected to by at least 50 people and the Yass Valley Council, following which it was referred to the commission. A site inspection, a locality tour and a public meeting later, the commission determined to grant development consent to the project, subject to conditions. It found the project contributing to the state and national energy transition, reducing emissions currently generated by other modes of electricity generation, and consistent with the renewable energy policy framework.
Poultry farm signs up for solar: New Zealand-based solar energy company Lodestone Energy has signed a 20-year agreement with the country’s leading poultry provider Inghams. The company will generate 100% renewable electricity from its solar farms in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel to meet Inghams’ demand into the future. The agreement will come into effect in 2025. Lodestone said the flexible agreement matches 100% of their consumption and will adapt to Ingham’s energy requirements over time. This will ensure the procurer’s operations are more sustainable and resilient in the face of growing demand and a volatile electricity market. Lodestone will supply Inghams with Renewable Energy Certificates (REC). The solar power company targets to add over 800 GWh to the market by 2028, and this deal is aligned with the aim, it added.
Neoen’s Culcairn Solar Farm offtake agreement: France’s Neoen has signed a PPA with Australian independent energy retailer Smartest Energy for its 440 MW DC/350 MW AC Culcairn Solar Farm in the Riverina region of NSW. SmartestEnergy will offtake 50% of the output from the project under a 4-year contract that will commence in late 2026. This will enable the utility to meet the growing demand for renewable energy from commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses in NSW. Neoen’s Culcairn Solar Farm also has a Long-Term Energy Services Agreement (LTESA) through the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Services tenders under the NSW government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. This agreement provides the energy producer an option to sell electricity at an agreed minimum fixed price. Neoen called it the 2nd largest solar asset in its global portfolio, after the 460 MW solar farm at Western Downs Green Power Hub in Queensland.
European Energy expanding in Australia: Denmark’s European Energy has purchased 2 solar power plants with a combined 137 MW DC/105 MW AC capacity in Australia from OX2. The latter has offloaded 106 MW DC/80 MW AC Lancaster Solar Farm in Victoria, and 31 MW DC/25 MW AC Mulwala Solar Farm in NSW. Both farms are expected to come online in 2026 and produce about 255 GWh once operational. This sale follows OX2’s offloading of a 119 MW AC solar farm in Australia earlier in September 2024 (see Asia Pacific Solar PV News Snippets: TaiyangNews’ Michael Schmela At RE+ US Manufacturing Conference & More).