EnergyCo, a government agency in Australia’s New South Wales (NSW), will support an AUD 11 million pilot program to install rooftop solar and home batteries at selected social housing properties in the Illawarra region. The Social Housing Virtual Power Plant (VPP) pilot will connect participating homes through a VPP to help reduce electricity bills for tenants and improve grid reliability. The Australian Government will contribute AUD 10 million, while the NSW Government will provide AUD 1 million. The initiative is part of the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Australia's first urban REZ.
NZ Clean Energy (NZCE), a New Zealand-based developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for its 118 MW Masterton Solar and Energy Storage Project. Mercury NZ Limited, a renewable electricity generator and retailer, has signed up to purchase the renewable electricity generated by the project in the Wairarapa region. The project is expected to produce approximately 190 GWh annually. A Foresight portfolio company NZCE said the project will also allow continued sheep grazing across the site. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027. The agreement marks Mercury’s first major grid-scale solar PPA. It will diversify Mercury’s renewable energy portfolio, which currently includes hydro, wind, and geothermal generation.
Asia-Pacific-focused real company ESR is set to acquire 100% of Aquila Clean Energy APAC from Germany-based Aquila Group. Aquila Clean Energy APAC develops, owns, and operates solar, wind, and battery storage assets across the region. Its 1.6 GW portfolio includes operational, under-construction, and advanced development projects across Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. ESR says this transaction will strengthen its clean energy infrastructure capabilities, building on its solar and battery storage pipeline, and complement its existing logistics real estate and data center businesses. The company sees opportunities to integrate energy infrastructure with these sectors amid rising electricity demand and industrial decarbonization. Following the acquisition, ESR plans to scale the platform and expand investment opportunities across its Asia-Pacific operations. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2027.
B.Grimm Power, a Thailand-based power producer, and Siam Piwat Group, a retail and real estate developer, have signed an MOU to explore clean energy trading projects through Third-Party Access (TPA). They target up to 300 MW in contracted capacity, according to local media reports. The agreement coincides with the commissioning of an 800 kW rooftop solar system at Siam Paragon. It aligns with B.Grimm Power’s overarching target to achieve 10 GW of total power capacity by 2030 as it aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its portfolio to over 50% by 2030, and achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2065. Thailand targets to achieve 10 GW of rooftop solar capacity which is equivalent to approximately 1 million households.
Philippines-based renewable energy company NexGen Energy Corp has signed a three-year solar power supply agreement (PSA) with local retail electricity supplier Marubeni Philippines Energy Corporation (MPEC). Under the agreement, signed through its subsidiary, SPARC-Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corporation, NexGen said it will supply all renewable electricity generated by its solar power plant in San Rafael, Bulacan, along with the corresponding Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). For NexGen, it is the company’s first PSA with a retail electricity supplier and its first with a Japanese-affiliated offtaker. It also marks the company's entry into direct supply to the retail electricity market. The PSA will run for three years from the supply commencement date, with an option for a further three-year extension by mutual agreement. NexGen said it plans to pursue the same commercial model across its operating solar portfolio and development pipeline.
Renewable energy developer Yanara has selected Gamuda Australia, the Australian arm of Malaysia-based EPC company Gamuda Berhad, for its solar and storage project in Australia. The Mortlake Energy Hub in western Victoria will combine 435 MW of solar generation with a 300 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) with a 4.5-hour duration. It will connect to Victoria’s existing 500 kV transmission network. Construction will start in November 2026. The project will be energized in April 2028, with commercial operations expected to begin in Q1 2029.
New Zealand’s Lightyears has started construction of the 15 MW Te Aho o te Rā Solar Farm in Kuratau, near Tūrangi. It is building the project in partnership with eight local Māori land trusts, incorporations, and related investment entities. It will feature approximately 24,000 solar modules across 32 hectares. Lightyears said the project is expected to generate around 23.5 GWh annually. The project provides participating Māori investment entities with an opportunity to invest directly in a long-term renewable energy. Te Aho o te Rā Solar Farm is expected to be completed by July 2027.
