Victoria To Seek Minimum 600 MW RE Under VRET2

Seeking At Least 600 MW New Renewable Energy Capacity, Australia’s Victoria To Hold 2nd Victorian Renewable Energy Target Auction In Q3/2021

Victoria To Seek Minimum 600 MW RE Under VRET2

After awarding 928 MW wind and solar power capacity under VRET1 round held in September 2018, Australian state Victoria is now getting ready to procure power from at least 600 MW capacity under VRET2. (Photo Credit: abriendomundo/Shutterstock.com)

  • Victoria’s DELWP will launch VRET2 renewable energy auction in Q3/2021
  • It plans to auction a minimum of 600 MW capacity, but can expand it to include additional capacity
  • Power generated by winning projects will match state’s electricity consumption for Victorian hospitals and schools, Melbourne’s entire train network and a range of other government infrastructure and services

The state of Victoria in Australia will be soliciting ‘at least’ 600 MW renewable energy capacity under the Victorian Renewable Energy Target auction round 2, dubbed as VRET2 that it plans to hold around Q3/2021.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) said auction tender documentation is being finalized and released around the 3rd quarter this year. Successful projects will be announced in H1/2022.

DELWP said it has designed the 2nd round of auction after factoring in key findings of its VRET2 market sounding process held between September 2020 and October 2020 (see Australia’s Victoria Plans 600 MW RE Addition). However, it added that it may support additional renewable energy capacity beyond the 600 MW threshold depending on the scale and competitiveness of bids received.

Projects awarded under VRET2 will match the state government’s electricity consumption for Victorian hospitals and schools, Melbourne’s entire train network and a range of other government infrastructure and services.

In a fact sheet published to explain VRET2 details, the department has specified that it will seek bids that offer a strike price AUD per MWh for renewable energy generation in the state over 10 years, and also a payment cap which is an upper limit of total net payment from government under a Contract for Difference (CFD) agreement.

VRET2 follows VRET1 when the government selected 6 wind and solar projects with 928 MW capacity, exceeding the original target of 650 MW in September 2018. Winning projects comprised 254.6 MW solar power capacity with single axis trackers (see Victoria Awards 928 MW New RE Capacity).

Through VRET, Victoria aims to meet its target to source 100% renewable electricity for its state government operations by 2025. It believes additional renewable energy supply through auctions will continue to put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices, reducing bills for every Victorian household and business.

About The Author

Anu Bhambhani

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Anu is our solar news whirlwind. At TaiyangNews, she covers everything that is of importance in the world of solar power. In the past 9 years that she has been associated with TaiyangNews, she has covered over thousands of stories, and analysis pieces on markets, technology, financials, and more on a daily basis. She also hosts TaiyangNews Conferences and Webinars. Prior to joining TaiyangNews, Anu reported on sustainability, management, and education for leading print dailies in India. [email protected]

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