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Ivor Frischknecht

Australian Renewable Energy Agency Solar Grants – 12 Plants Reach Financial Close in April

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Australian Renewable Energy Agency
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) have reached a significant solar milestone with their funding of PV plants in Australia. As of EOM April 2017 all 12 plants currently receiving grant funding from ARENA have reached a “financial close”. A financial close refers to the fact that all plants are fully financed with council and environmental approvals. They also have agreements in place with regards to grid connection, construction, and engineering. Nine of the plants have already begun construction and, when completed, the 12 plants will generate enough renewable energy to power 150,000 homes. All together, the 12 plants will generate 468.8MW of solar energy – and this doesn’t count at least six more plants being developed without any assistance from ARENA.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht noted that the total cost of plant production has decreased by 40% over the last three years. The amount of grant funding required to launch large-scale solar projects has also shrunk dramatically – from $1.60/watt three years ago to just 28c per watt in 2017. In addition to this, there are at least six PV plants in advanced stages of development that have received no funding, an indication that the industry has advanced to a level where it’s financially feasible to develop solar plants even without any government intervention and Australia is well on its way to reaching our 2020 renewable energy target (large-scale renewable energy generation of 33,000 GWh)

The 12 plants received a total of $92m in grants from ARENA – in addition to $1bn provided by private investment.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Funded Solar Plants

The Solar Plants ARENA have funded and their capacity:

  1. QLD – Kidston Solar Park, 50MW
  2. QLD – Longreach Solar Park, 15MW
  3. QLD – Collinsville Solar Power Station, 42MW
  4. QLD – Oakey Solar Farm, 25MW
  5. QLD – Darling Downs Solar Farm, 106.8MW
  6. QLD – Whitsunday Solar Farm, 52.8MW
  7. NSW – White Rock Solar Farm, 20MW
  8. NSW – Dubbo Solar Hub, 22.4MW
  9. NSW – Manildra Solar Farm, 42.4MW
  10. NSW – Parkes Solar Farm, 46MW
  11. NSW – Griffith Solar Farm (Neoen), 26.4MW
  12. WA – Emu Downs Solar Farm, 20.1MW

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Australian Solar Power could provide 30% of energy requirements by 2030.

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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) released a report on Monday which postulates that we could reach 30% of our electricity requirements through PV solar by 2030.  The 2030 Emissions Reduction Climate Change target is to reduce emissions by 26-28% (on 2005 levels) by 2030. If 30% of our energy is met through solar, we should also have a significant amount generated by wind (of the projected ~12GW of renewable energy we will have by end of 2018, 5.4GW of this will be wind power). This should put Australia in the driver’s seat in terms of meeting and even surpassing our emissions targets. Australian solar power is on an exciting and world-leading path.

Australian Solar Power ARENA
ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency)

Australian Solar Power Subsidies from ARENA

According to RenewEconomy, ARENA still has $800m in its budget to help fund renewable energy in Australia. At a function in Melbourne on Monday, ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht discussed how they will help over the next three years and advised that they are currently focusing on four main areas:

  1. Battery Storage / Grid Stability and Reliability
  2. Solar PV Innovation
  3. Raising Energy Productivity
  4. Exporting Renewable Energy

The main focus of ARENA’s budget will be on storage/grid stability and this is expected to account for around 50% of the remaining $800m over the next three years. Frischknecht was quoted as saying Australia is well on the way to a robust renewable energy economy – citing that our journey towards an “affordable and reliable” renewable energy grid is successful so far.

Ivor Frischknecht ARENA
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht addresses stakeholders (source: twitter.com/ARENA_aus)

Frischknecht also discussed the future of solar technology (both panels and storage): “This is the best time ever to be in this industry. It’s the most exciting time. If you look at the changes from 1980-2005 and compare to what has happened since, it is just breathtaking. And it is getting faster.” Noting that 75% of our current energy output is exported (via coal and LNG), he said that ARENA are exploring ‘vectors’ such as hydrogen, ammonia, and commodity refining/export as potential ways for Australia to make a profit from a robust renewable energy platform.

 

 

 

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Portable Solar Tech SunSHIFT given $2.1m by ARENA.

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The government have announced $2.1m in funding for portable solar tech (‘pop-up solar’), as per an announcement from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) last Thursday. This represents a step in the right direction in terms of replacing ‘dirty’ and expensive diesel generators with (for the most part) clean, portable energy solutions in rural and fringe-of-grid areas. These portable solar generators will be manufactured by a company called SunSHIFT, which has been established by Laing O’Rourke.

SunSHIFT Portable Solar by Laing O’Rourke

The money has been invested in a new technology which combines a PV system with battery storage. The system is also complemented by a diesel/gas generator as a backup energy source. The SunSHIFT portable solar machines will be modular 1MW blocks which could be used, initially, in tandem with conventional energy generation. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht noted in the AFR that this mobile solar tech could be particularly useful for short-medium term projects, where the relatively long payback period of solar energy would not be feasible.

“Projects that only last a handful of years, like construction and mining operations, could benefit from SunSHIFT without having to rely on the typical 20-plus year payback period for solar installations,” Frischknecht said.

The SunSHIFT blocks have also been lauded by Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg who was quoted as saying “This innovation means several locations can benefit from a single plant, without any one site needing to commit to a permanent installation.”

Portable Solar SunSHIFT Blocks
Mobile Solar – SunSHIFT Blocks (source: sunshift.com)

SunSHIFT Technical Specifications and more information.

  • Each 1MW block will contain 2400 (435kw) solar panels.
  • Each panels/inverter/transformer/storage unit will occupy ~1.25ha
  • Designed to fit in shipping containers.
  • Cost less than providing diesel power to regional sites (the transportation of diesel fuel can run up to 30% of cost of energy)
  • Targeted at mining companies.
  • Buy-out option available.
  • Click here to read a fact sheet from SunSHIFT about their product.

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