AUD 2 billion for CEFC: The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia’s green bank, has secured AUD 2 billion ($1.3 billion) in additional funds from the federal government to aid its efforts to drive downward pressure on electricity prices. This is part of the ‘ambitious but achievable’ target set by the Albanese Labor Government to achieve 62% to 70% reduction in emissions compared to 2005. The CEFC committed AUD 4.7 billion in 2024-25, of which AUD 3.5 billion was allocated to renewables and grid upgrades (see CEFC Invests A Record AUD 4.7 Billion In Clean Energy).
Trinasolar projects secure administrative approvals: Chinese solar PV giant Trinasolar has secured a green signal for 2 of its projects in Australia. According to local media reports, the authorities have approved the company’s Killawarra Solar and BESS Project In Western Australia, featuring a 400 MW solar farm and 400 MW/1,600 MWh battery energy storage system capacity. Trinasolar plans to establish the project near Kadathinni on an approximately 620-hectare freehold site that’s located close to Western Power’s Northern Energy Link. The approval for this project comes close on the heels of the state of Victoria fast-tracking the Chinese company’s 500 MW/1,000 MWh Kiewa Valley Battery project. The AUD 453 million ($298 million) battery project will soak up and store cheap renewable energy during the day and feed it back into the grid during peak demand time.
Solar power for Japanese hotel: A group company of Orion Breweries in Japan, Orion Hotel has entered an off-site solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Toda Corporation and the Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc. Toda will supply Orion Hotel Mtotobu Resort & Spa with around 1.7 million kWh/year clean energy generated by rooftop PV system installed on the company’s Urasoe Logistics Center in Urasoe City in Okinawa Prefecture via Okinawa Electric Power. This will enable Orion to cover close to 25% of its annual electricity consumption with renewable energy. It will also lower its carbon emissions by approximately 1,100 tons annually. Supply start date is October 2025.
Solar and storage project moves forward: Lightsource bp is advancing its maiden solar and storage hybrid project coming up in Australia, as it commenced delivery on the same. With a 49 MW/562 MWh long-duration DC-coupled battery energy storage system (BESS), this component will be integrated with the developer’s 585 MW DC Goulburn River Solar Farm near Merriwa in New South Wales (NSW). The battery component is backed by a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) through the New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, while the solar component is backed by the Commonwealth’s South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. For the Goulburn River Solar Farm, Lightsource bp signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group to power its Kooragang Island Coal Facility (see Asia Pacific Solar PV News Snippets).
Servotech signs up Enovra for Mauritius market: India’s Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. has signed a definitive trade agreement with Mauritius-based Enovra Energy Solutions Limited. Under the agreement, Servotech will supply electric vehicle (EV) chargers and solar solutions to Enovra for distribution and deployment across Mauritius and other surrounding regions as its exclusive representative. “With EV chargers and solar solutions manufactured in India, we are creating value that extend beyond borders, bringing sustainability to international communities while contributing to India’s vision of becoming a global clean energy leader,” said Servotech’s Managing Director, Raman Bhatia.
$53 million loan for Cambodia: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $52.72 million loan for Cambodia’s Grid Expansion Project. It will enable the country to build 55 km of 230 kV transmission lines between Pursat and Kampong Chhnang, and upgrade 9 substations across the country. ADB says this will strengthen the country’s transmission capacity to deliver renewable energy to demand centers while improving reliability and encouraging greater private investment. According to the bank, Cambodia’s grid was originally built for conventional power, and now it needs expansion to handle the growing volume of solar and wind energy. ADB is supporting Cambodia’s national utility Électricité du Cambodge (EDC) with 2 GW of solar and energy storage development by 2030 (see Cambodia Plans GWs Of Solar Plus Storage).
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