Solar PV manufacturing in the US: For the upcoming RE+ event in California, TaiyangNews has partnered with EUPD Research and RE+ to host a 1-day conference on Solar Made In USA How to manufacture solar wafers, cells & modules competitively in the United States. This event on September 9, 2024, will be hosted by TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela as stakeholders from leading companies and organizations from around the world come together to delve into solar PV manufacturing in the US. Register for the event here.
Actis investing in Philippines project: Global sustainable infrastructure investor Actis is investing in what it touts to be the world’s largest integrated renewables and energy storage project. The Terra Solar Project in the Philippines with 3.5 GW solar PV and 4.5 GWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity is located on the country’s main island of Luzon. Actis has joined hands under a strategic partnership with the Philippines’ largest distribution utility Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and its subsidiary Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation. This will give Actis a 40% equity stake in the project company Terra Solar Philippines for a $600 million investment. It will be located on 3,500 hectares of land, and backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meralco for 850 MW capacity, for 12 hours daily on average. The project has been under construction since early this year (see World’s ‘Largest’ Solar Project Under Construction).
Actis said the Philippines has already awarded around 5 GW of solar and wind PPAs to achieve its 35% renewable energy target of 2040. In 2025, it expects to award an additional 12 GW in 2 auction rounds.
119 MW AC project changes hands in Australia: Sweden-headquartered renewable energy company OX2 has offloaded a 119 MW AC solar farm in Australia. It will continue to construct the project located in the state of Victoria on behalf of the undisclosed buyer and also manage the operations under a 5-year agreement once it is online. It is expected to produce around 242 GWh of solar energy annually. The company now has a development portfolio of around 1 GW of solar and 230 MW of energy storage projects in Australia. “Since our entry to Australia last year, we have strengthened our local team, and a lot of work has gone into getting the late-stage projects ready for financial close. We have a solid project development portfolio and there is currently a lot of activity both in our solar and energy storage projects,” stated OX2 Australia’s Country Manager Rachel Watson.
Solar and storage project in Queensland: Iberdrola Australia has commenced construction for the 376 MW Broadsound Solar Farm and 180 MW/2-hour co-located BESS in Australia. This is the company’s 1st project in the state of Queensland. The Clark Creek located project will take about 2 years to construct, and achieve completion in mid-2026. It is developed on the land of the Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala (BKY) people. “It’s been great to work with the local community, the First Nations people, and in particular the Queensland Government and Isaac Regional Council to develop this project to deliver clean and affordable energy,” said Iberdrola Australia CEO and Chairman Ross Rolfe AO.
Solar PV MoU in Malaysia: Shizen Energy Group’s Shizen International is exploring the potential development of ground-mounted solar PV projects in Terengganu, Malaysia. It has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Terengganu State Government’s Terengganu Incorporated Sdn. Bhd. for the same. “By working together, we aim to enhance local socio-economic development and contribute to Terengganu Inc.'s ESG target of achieving a 35% renewable energy capacity mix by 2025,” according to the Representative Director of Shizen International, Hiroki Koga.