RE PPA for gold mining: Zenith Energy has announced signing a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for a hybrid project to supply energy to Northern Star’s Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operations in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The company calls it Australia’s largest renewable energy project for the mining sector. Zenith will build, own, and operate the project that will contribute to KCGM’s emission reductions by lowering its electricity costs, while delivering higher energy reliability, it adds. The project comprises 256 MW of wind, 138 MW of solar, and a 138 MW/300 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Australian solar systems manufacturer 5B will deploy over 230,000 solar panels for the 138 MW solar farm using its rapid-install Maverick platform. Last month, Northern Star proposed to build a renewable energy hub to power its KCGM operations (see Asia Pacific Solar PV News Snippets).
Brookfield acquires Alba: Brookfield Asset Management has completed the acquisition of clean energy developer Alba Renewables – its maiden renewables investment in the Philippines and Thailand. With this acquisition, Brookfield expands its renewable energy portfolio by 1.8 GW of solar, wind, and BESS. Brookfield also made inroads into Vietnam with the acquisition of a 100 MW operational wind project, thus strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia’s renewable energy market.
CEFC makes solar investments: Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has announced fresh investments in solar energy companies. Through the Powering Australia Technology Fund, it has invested in Agile Energy, a behind-the-meter (BTM) solar and battery energy company for commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses. It will enable Agile to deliver over 200 MW of solar and battery development. Along with CEFC, Five V Capital has also invested in Agile.
CEFC is also investing up to AUD 35 million in Starling Energy Group, which operates through its retail brand Plico. This investment through the Household Energy Upgrades Fund (HEUF) will help reduce household electricity bills as Plico expands its end-to-end solar, battery, and virtual power plant (VPP) services across the country. Households can sign up for a weekly installment for their solar, battery, and VPP package while Plico manages installation and O&M for the life of the subscription.
20-year PPA for ACCIONA: ACCIONA Energia has won a 20-year power supply contract for the full output of its wind and solar projects in the Philippines’ Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) Round 4. This pertains to a 101 MW wind farm in Laguna and the 180 MW Daanbantayan Solar Plant in Cebu. Construction on site will begin before the end of 2025. The Department of Energy in the Philippines awarded 10.2 GW of renewables under GEAP Round 4, dominated by solar PV (see Over 10 GW RE Selected Under Philippines’ GEA-4 Auction).
230 MW project cleared: The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in Australia has announced environmental approval for a 230 MW solar and 2,048 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project. The environmental clearance for the Solar River Project in South Australia is valid until December 31, 2076. ZEN Energy will develop the project with around 400,000 solar panels, 46 inverter stations, and will also build the transmission line.
Solar & storage project changes hands: Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy has offloaded its Gunning Energy Park hybrid solar and battery project in Australia. The 275 MW DC solar farm with 120 MW BESS is located near Gunning in New South Wales (NSW). It has been bought by an unidentified European infrastructure and investment group.
30 MW solar plant in Malaysia: M K Land Holdings Berhad subsidiary, Citra Energies, has awarded a MYR 142.3 million EPCC contract to Solarvest’s Atlantic Blue for a 29.99 MW solar plant under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme in Kedah. The 2 companies said the project reinforces their ongoing collaboration and supports Malaysia’s clean energy transition.
