Project Update Week ending 28 June 2019

4GW Walcha Energy Project in NSW powers ahead - Vestas acquires a majority stake in first wind to the north east of Walcha. A small development by Walcha Energy – percentage of the project is owned by Winterbourne Project community stakeholders. Walcha Energy will - Walcha Energy submits scoping report to assist Vestas with land, community NSW Department of Planning & Environment engagement and grid strategy. Vestas’ for 700MW Salisbury Solar Farm, development of the Winterbourne Wind Farm 100MW/150MWh BESS and Uralla RE Hub continues to demonstrate its commitment to - Dungowan Dam PHES - feasibility studies growing renewable energy in . commence “Vestas’ acquisition of Winterbourne is a giant The Walcha Energy Project, a wind, solar and step forward for The Walcha Energy Project pumped hydro energy storage project of up to and evidences strong support and respect for 4GW in total, is situated around the town of the local Walcha community. We are Walcha in the New England tablelands, fortunate to be working with Vestas as the approximately 55km south of Armidale, NSW. world’s leading wind OEM to unlock the clean It is in a region that benefits from energy potential of Walcha, to foster complementary renewable energy resources, responsible develop in the REZ and to enable with night-time wind and day-time solar. new economic development opportunities in regional NSW in collaboration with the local Walcha Energy is a partnership between community,” said Vincent Dwyer, Principal of MirusWind and Energy Estate. Energy Estate.

- Vestas – Winterbourne Wind Farm “A key feature of The Walcha Energy Project is Global wind energy leader Vestas has the unique community benefit model, acquired the Winterbourne Wind Farm from including an ownership interest in the Walcha Energy. Winterbourne Wind Farm, Winterbourne Wind Farm. We’ve been which has a potential capacity of up to engaging with the Walcha community for 700MW, is the first stage of the wind more than 14 years and continued component of The Walcha Energy Project. The engagement, benefit sharing and responsible Vestas investment will accelerate development are core values for our team. development of the Winterbourne Wind Farm Vestas is perfectly aligned with these core and will help unlock the considerable values and to this commitment,” said Mark renewable energy potential of the wider New Waring, Director at Walcha Energy. England region. The development team has worked closely Vestas has acquired a majority stake of the with the surrounding community and Winterbourne Wind Farm and will lead the designed innovative arrangements that seek development of the project, which is located to balance the interests of the key

Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) landholders, their neighbours, the community region outlined in Transgrid’s 2018 and other stakeholders. Transmission Annual Planning Report and in the Transgrid / Powerlink 2018 PSCR Report The next stage of the development of the into Expanding the NSW-QLD transmission Winterbourne Wind Farm will focus on transfer capacity which is part of the RiT-T preparation of an environmental impact process for a new interconnect between NSW assessment to support a development and QLD. application in 2020. Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, the wind farm is planned - Dungowan Dam PHES – feasibility studies to commence operations in 2022. commence In November 2018, Tamworth Regional - Salisbury Solar, BESS and Uralla Hub scoping Council signed a memorandum with the report lodged with DP&E developers of The Walcha Energy Project and Walcha Energy is pleased to announce that it Arup to explore the option of Dungowan Dam, has lodged the scoping report for the owned by the Council, forming part of a new Salisbury Solar Farm, a 700MW solar farm to pumped hydro energy storage scheme. Arup be located on the Salisbury Plains south east is recognised as one of the leading designers of Uralla, with the NSW Department of of PHES systems globally and is working on Planning & Environment. The scoping report several other schemes in Australia including also includes a 100MW/150MWh battery the innovative Cultana seawater PHES in energy storage system, a new 330kV . substation which will operate as a new grid ‘hub’ supporting the development of the New Walcha Energy has now commenced work on England Renewable Energy Zone (the Uralla the next phase of the feasibility study of RE Hub), and associated transmission building a PHES around the existing 6.4 infrastructure. megalitre Dungowan Dam. This work will be completed over the next 3-4 months and The proposed site for the Salisbury Solar Farm involves a trade-off analysis of upper and has been chosen after consultation with the lower reservoir options. landowners and neighbours, taking into account any impact on visual amenity, the In view of the continuing drought in NSW and grid connection potential, landowners the pressures on water supply for the preferred parts of their land suitable for solar Tamworth/Peel Valley, the feasibility study development and minimising the areas will also assess how the water security can be containing sensitive and natural heritage enhanced through the design of the PHES features. The impact on any incompatible land scheme and expanding the existing areas and woodland areas has also been catchment. reduced within the project sites. Source: Walcha Energy The Uralla RE Hub, to be located 30km south of Armidale, will serve as the connection point for the first stage of The Walcha Energy Hadstone's 385 MWp Project. A distinguishing feature is that the Uralla RE Hub would be available as a Broadsound Solar Farm - now connection point for other developers in this to build it... part of the New England REZ, helping to 24 June deliver system strength and flexibility to NSW Broadsound is a 385 MWp solar park and to reduce system costs by providing a development in Central Queensland, Australia single connection point at this critical point in by Hadstone Australia. As it’s now ready to NSW’s transmission network. The Uralla RE build, we wanted to share the story of its Hub is aligned with the concepts for the development with you.

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The numbers tell part of the story – 385 Megawatts-peak, 296 MVA, connecting Surveys done, the Planning approval process directly to Powerlink’s 275kV transmission (or Development approval, to use the correct grid. One number stands out – with 12 square term) was thorough but straight-forward. km of solar modules, the Broadsound project Approval was given by Isaac council in 2017, is roughly the same size as Sydney harbour. with no objections either during the approval When fully constructed, Broadsound will be process or during community consultations. one of Australia’s largest solar farms. However, more daunting by far was the In early 2017, Hadstone identified Powerlink’s cultural heritage walkover with Hadstone staff Broadsound H20 275kV switching station as and consultants and members of the Barada one of the best places in Queensland to Kabalbara Yetimarala People in October 2018. connect a solar project. Unfortunately a dozen While Queensland’s solar irradiance is great other developers had reached the same for power generation, it’s not great for people conclusion! One landowner owns all suitable spending all day searching for artefacts, so the nearby land, so we were delighted when he walkover had to finish before the summer quite quickly chose Hadstone as the preferred heat started to kick in in November. developer. Just to check that the irradiance is what we The 25,000 acre Manly cattle station is inland think it is, a small weather station was of the dividing range, and so doesn’t generally commissioned on the site in 2018 and it’s now suffer cyclones. However, cyclonic just a couple of months short of a full year’s depressions can drench the site and fill the data – the photo below was taken when it brownstone creeks suddenly, so selecting the was being commissioned. right site on the farm was crucial. The other unique aspect of Australian The final layout involved over a million solar renewables is of course the transmission modules, so over two million square metres of connection process. An application to silicon. Powerlink for a 275kV connection was made in 2017 and after 18 months of heroically Broadsound is between Rockhampton and intense simulation modelling by three Mackay on the Marlborough-Sarina State consulting firms and by Powerlink (with a highway. special shout-out to inverter manufacturer, SMA) we finally got there in May 2019. Only when you compare it with more familiar landscapes does the true scale hit you. If So there you go – a guide on how to go from Broadsound were transferred to Sydney’s cattle station to ready-to-build solar farm in eastern suburbs, it would reach from two-and-a-half intense years. Located half- Rushcutters’s bay to Randwick Racecourse way between Rockhampton and Mackay right and from Central Station nearly to Coogee. next to the Marlborough-Sarina highway, it should be straight-forward to build. All we How do you do surveys on such an immense need to do now is build it! site? The answer is slowly, and expensively. Too big for a drone survey, the topographic Source: Hadstone Australia survey was done with seven passes of a LIDAR-equipped fixed-wing plane. Full Geotech and resistivity surveys and pile pull tests resulted in over 250 pages of information on where it’d be ok to drive piles and where to pre-drill the underlying weathered andesite.

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Kogan.com to launch Kogan “With well over one and a half million active customers, Kogan.com is proud to be able to Energy offer a genuine win-win-win for Meridian, for 24 June Kogan’s shareholders and, most importantly, Signs partnership with Australia, for Kogan.com customers who will get access part of the Limited group to low prices on power and gas, and a Kogan.com Limited (Kogan.com, Kogan; seamless digital experience.” ASX:KGN) has entered into a multi-year agreement with Powershop Australia Pty Ltd Meridian Energy Australia and Powershop (Powershop), a part of the Meridian Energy Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Ed Limited group (Meridian; ASX:MEZ | McManus, said the company was pleased to NZX:MEL). The agreement will see Kogan.com be working with Kogan to continue to bring offering competitive power and gas services choice and transparency to Australian energy to Australian households under a new brand, consumers. Kogan Energy. “We generate some of the cleanest and Kogan Energy is expected to launch before the greenest energy in Australia. Together with end of the 2019 calendar year and will focus Kogan, we believe we can make a real on simplifying the provision of power and gas difference to the energy space by delivering for millions of Australians and making these simple, great value, energy offerings through essential services more affordable through Kogan Energy.” digital efficiency. Source: Kogan Details of the offering will be released by Kogan Energy closer to the launch date. NEW PROJECT The Kogan brand is synonymous with price leadership achieved through leveraging digital Atherton Solar Farm efficiency, and has demonstrated success in Location: Near Tolga in Atherton Tablelands its portfolio of businesses. region of North Queensland. Capacity: 81 MW David Shafer, Executive Director of Developer: NESI Australia Kogan.com, said the partnership with LGA: Tableland Regional Council Powershop will help reduce the cost of power Status: Development approval submitted to and gas for many Australians: council in December 2018 “Kogan.com is excited to partner with Description: Located on 125ha of cleared Powershop, which is part of Meridian Energy - farming land, ~16km from the major bulk Australasia’s largest 100% renewable energy supply substation (Turkinje SS). Negotiations generator. This partnership will enable are underway with Energy Queensland Kogan.com to offer Aussies low cost power regarding the required 66kV Connection and gas, and a first-class customer experience Agreement. The project will use panels using technology that will enable customers mounted on fixed structures (not a tracking to easily track their energy usage at any time. system). Contact: Project Team “Meridian Energy Group provides world class NESI Australia generation from some of Australia’s leading Tel: 1300 197 222 wind farms and hydro power stations, and Email: [email protected] Powershop Australia was ranked Australia’s Web: http://www.athertonsolar.com.au/ Greenest Power Company from 2014-2018 by Greenpeace.

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CWP Renewables enables Rest to become the sole owner SolarShare's community solar of in farm near Canberra Western Australia 24 June 24 June In a nice link to the , CWP Rest has agreed to fully acquire the Collgar Renewables is pleased to announce that it is Wind Farm in Western Australia, which will helping to enable the largest community solar make it one of the largest Australian farm to be built in Australia with an $800,000 renewable energy projects directly owned by debt facility. an Australian superannuation fund.

Canberra’s SolarShare will build its flagship Rest has been involved with Collgar since 1MW solar farm in the Majura Valley after construction began in 2010, and previously receiving over $2.36 million from more than held a 40 per cent stake in the project. Rest 400 Canberra-based community investors. To has agreed to acquire the remaining 60 per reach the full $2.8 million fundraising target, cent from UBS Asset Management's Real CWP Renewables will provide a limited Estate & Private Markets Infrastructure resource debt facility of $800,000. This will business. The acquisition was negotiated and enable construction to begin in August. concluded by Rest’s internal investment manager, Super Investment Management. Chief Executive Officer of CWP Renewables, Jason Willoughby said “Following the ACT “Collgar Wind Farm is a premium Government’s support for the development of infrastructure asset that has been delivering the Sapphire Wind Farm in 2016, CWP has strong returns for Rest members. Renewable established its national operation and asset energy projects like this will continue to play management centre in Canberra, servicing an important role in Australia’s future,” said projects throughout NSW. We are pleased to George Zielinski, Chief Investment Officer for be able to repay support we received from the Super Investment Management. ACT Government for the Sapphire project by supporting the Majura Project and we “As an existing owner, Rest has been able to congratulate SolarShare on this significant monitor and assess the wind farm’s achievement”. operational performance since construction was completed in 2011. Taking full ownership Once complete, SolarShare’s solar farm will is a great opportunity to drive further value generate enough clean energy to power 260 from the asset and strengthen Rest’s homes and will prevent over 1,700 tonnes of infrastructure portfolio. atmospheric CO2 pollution. “The project has and is expected to continue The Sapphire Wind Farm community to generate sustainable cash flows. We are investment initiative will close on 30 June confident it will help grow members’ (and there will not be any further extensions). retirement savings into the future.” If you are interested in investing please act now so you don't miss out. This offer is open Collgar is the largest wind farm in WA, built on to all residents of NSW and ACT to participate. 18,000 hectares of land with a total capacity Your application form must be filled out by of 206 Megawatts. midnight on Sunday evening. Collgar generates, on average, between 40 If you would like to invest now, please click and 50 per cent of the state’s renewable here to go directly to the application form. electricity. This is enough to power up to 170,000 average WA households per year and Source: CWP Renewables

Page 5 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) displace up to 690,000 tonnes of carbon AGL General Manager of Gas and Renewables dioxide emissions per year. Operations, Colin Mills, said each turbine has a tip height of up to 180 metres, while a rotor The project holds a five-star Global Real diameter of up to 137 metres. Estate Sustainable Benchmark (GRESB) rating for 2018. “Throughout the construction process, around $56 million has been spent on local businesses Collgar is located near Merredin in the and services providers,” Mr Mills said. Wheatbelt region, about 250 kilometres east of Perth. “The , north-west of Brisbane, has a total capacity of 453 MW Source: Rest Super which makes it the largest wind farm by MW capacity currently operating in Australia.

Giant blades power Coopers “The project is owned and constructed by the Powering Australian Renewables Fund, a Gap Wind Farm landmark financing initiative created by AGL 24 June and QIC. The $2-3 billion fund aims to develop Coopers Gap Wind Farm began generating and own approximately 1,000 MW in large- electricity today, with the first two turbines scale renewable generation projects. feeding energy into the National Electricity Market. “I’d like to thank PARF for its work in this achievement. The $850 million project involves 123 wind turbines in total, which are equipped with “I’d also like to recognise the efforts of the blades that are up to 67 metres long. Australian Energy Market Operator and Powerlink as project partners who helped us AGL CEO, Brett Redman, said achieving first get here, along with the support of the local generation for a project this size involves an community and local councils,” Mr Mills said. enormous effort by the many teams who have worked on the wind farm. About Coopers Gap The second greenfield project developed by “The size and scale of a project like this is the Powering Australian Renewables Fund extraordinary, and today’s milestone is thanks (PARF), the Coopers Gap Wind Farm has a to the hard work of so many people,” Mr capacity of 453 MW and produce around Redman said. 1,510,000 MWh of renewable energy – powering approximately 264,000 average “This is a significant project for AGL and the Australian homes. timing of bringing new generation into the grid is crucial for all energy users. Location Coopers Gap Wind Farm is 250 km north-west “It’s another great example of our of Brisbane near Cooranga North, between commitment to investing in new generation Dalby and Kingaroy. The site is located on land to deliver affordable and reliable power for that’s mainly used for cattle grazing and other customers. farming activities.

“We appreciate the support we have received It will connect to a new Powerlink substation from Government agencies in Queensland to along the Western Downs to Halys 275 kV navigate the logistic issues experienced during transmission line built by Powerlink. construction,” Mr Redman said. Source: AGL Energy

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VivoPower International PLC construction, a key strategic focus to accelerate growth. Announces US Solar Portfolio Sale Update and Major “In relation to our US solar portfolio sale, it has become clear that if we are able to secure Contract Wins in Australian corporate PPAs for projects, this could Solar and Data Centers potentially drive a significant increase in value 24 June per watt. We are also pleased with the VivoPower International PLC (Nasdaq: VVPR) continued momentum for our power services (“VivoPower” or the “Company”), an business in Australia. Our Kenshaw and J.A. international solar and power services Martin teams have demonstrated an company, is pleased to provide an update on unwavering commitment to building long- the status of its US solar portfolio sale. Since term relationships with customers through the last update, the sale process has excellence in engineering, design, progressed further with new international manufacturing, construction and service, parties now engaged. In addition, the delivering projects as promised, establishing Company has secured a power purchase themselves as trusted partners to a diverse agreement (“PPA”) for one of its projects and range of commercial, industrial, and public has started to engage with large corporates sector customers,” said Art Russell, Interim with a view to securing additional PPAs Chief Executive Officer of VivoPower. directly. This strategy could drive a significant increase in the average value per watt of the Adam Malcolm, General Manager of Kenshaw, whole portfolio. said, “We are pleased to have been awarded this additional work by a long-time data The Company would also like to announce center customer and very much respect the that its Australian power services businesses, trust our customers place in us to deliver our Kenshaw Electrical Pty Limited (“Kenshaw”) commitments on time and budget. These and J.A. Martin Electrical Pty Limited (“J.A. contracts are a testament to the reputation Martin”), have won additional contracts we have built in the data center sector and relating to solar farms and data centers worth more broadly across our customer base to US$22.6m. With these new contracts, deliver value for money.” VivoPower’s forward order book for power services has now increased to US$51.5 million Phil Lowbridge, General Manager of J.A. on the back of this and previous contract wins Martin, said, “We are very pleased to secure in the data center, solar, agriculture, our second major contract for construction of transport, mining, and utility sectors. This solar projects in under a year. With over represents an increase of 53% in the last US$138 billion forecast to be invested in seven months and is another new all-time renewable energy in Australia over the next record high forward order book. It is expected 30 years, we see solar as strategically that these contracts will be fulfilled within the important for our future growth. In addition, next 12 months. with the opportunities and support provided by VivoPower’s solar development team in Kenshaw has been awarded additional Australia, combined with our own capability, contracts worth US$18.9 million for the experience, and reputation developed over supply and installation of power generators to the last 50 years in business, we are excited one of Australia’s leading data center groups. by the potential for our business.” J.A. Martin has been awarded a US$3.7 million contract as part of the construction of a new Source: Vivo Power solar project in New South , Australia. This is the second significant contract win in less than a year for J.A. Martin in solar project

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Media response: Possible early As you set your agenda, we ask you to make addressing the problem of climate change closure of Yallourn power your number one priority. station The climate situation is much more than a 25 June political or even a scientific issue. It is a The front page of today’s Herald Sun reports profoundly moral one. Yallourn could close much sooner than its scheduled 2032 retirement. These are times unlike any known before. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Comment from Environment (IPCC) warns us that nothing short of strong Campaigns Manager Dr Nicholas Aberle: and immediate action on all fronts will avert “ is the dirtiest in the massive threats to the climate system on country and one of the most unreliable. It is which life on Earth depends. It is no responsible for around 15% of Victoria’s overstatement to call this an emergency. greenhouse gas emissions. Many faith leaders around the world have “If we intend to do anything about the climate made their views on this matter known. The crisis facing us, Yallourn and other coal- Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has burning power stations like it will need to called climate change a “moral crisis” and “the close much sooner than currently anticipated. human thumb on the scale, pushing us toward disaster.” A group of senior Buddhist leaders “The key now is to ensure we are building including His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to enough renewable energy and storage world leaders in 2015 saying that “through capacity to replace Yallourn’s output before it our lack of insight, we are destroying the very closes, and to scale up efforts to create new life support systems that we and all other sustainable jobs in the Latrobe Valley.” living beings depend on for survival.” Pope Francis stated in his famous encyclical, Source: Environment Victoria “Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony and disdain.”

The part played by Australia in the response No faith in coal to this emergency is crucial. The IPCC has now In an open letter to Prime Minister Scott told the world that global thermal coal use Morrison, over one hundred and fifty faith must drop by at least 59 per cent in the next leaders have declared that the climate 11 years if we are to avoid 1.5 Degree C situation is an emergency and urged a halt to warming. Australia is the world’s largest coal all new coal and gas projects, starting with the exporter, so we clearly have a particular moral proposed Adani mine. responsibility to stop developing polluting coal mines. Letter to the Prime Minister Simply put, opening up new coal reserves for Dear Prime Minister, mining is not compatible with any global response to avoid catastrophe. We call on you Congratulations on winning office. We wish to show true moral leadership. you well as you form your new Government. As you know, thousands of school students We are from many faith communities and have been protesting in our streets about this from all across Australia. Today, we are emergency. They have three demands. We speaking with one voice. are writing to urge you to agree to them:

- Stopping the proposed Adani coal mine

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- Committing to no new coal or gas projects in PROJECT NEWS Australia Gilgandra Solar Farm - Moving to 100% renewable energy by the Neoen applied for a development approval year 2030. modification for its 40 MW Gilgandra Solar

Farm proposal in NSW. The modification We understand this will be challenging. To includes an amendment to the proposed start with, the people who live in those generation capacity of the solar farm from 40 communities where employment would be MW to 50 MW, and the proposed maximum affected clearly need good reliable jobs. Yet a height of the solar panels from 3 metres to courageous leader would come up with a jobs 4.2 metres. The amendment to the proposed plan based on renewable energy instead of generation capacity of the solar farm is coal, an industry with an uncertain future proposed as after consultation with Essential which is now threatening our very survival. Energy determined that there was capacity to

accommodate a 50 MW solar farm, the The Adani mine in Central and North proposal is subsequently refined to increase Queensland is an excellent example. People the generation capacity to make use of the there need new, reliable jobs. Yet serious full connection capacity available. The number investment in solar would yield far more jobs of solar panels constituting the project would than the Adani mine would, as it is less need to be increased by a further 6,000 automated. And rejecting new coal will also (approximately) to 158,000 to enable the help to protect jobs that depend on the Great corresponding increase in generation Barrier Reef. There are currently 60,000 capacity, although all panels would still be people whose livelihood depends on the Reef. located within the approved areas.

We also know that the Adani mine would use A modification to the approved project is huge volumes of scarce water from the sought, comprising an amendment to the underground aquifers including the Great maximum height of the solar panels, from 3 Artesian Basin. Furthermore, it would add to metres (m) to 4.2 m, change in type of panels, the likelihood of droughts by fuelling climate and improved panel arrangement. The disruption. amended solar panel arrangement will allow

greater surface area and increased solar Despite the differences in our faith, we all energy generation efficiency. The type of solar regard addressing the climate emergency as panels proposed to be used are bifacial our shared moral challenge. We stand modules instead of monofacial modules. The together for our common home, the Earth. bifacial panels, as provided by the

construction contractor, have a height of 3.9 Will you and your Government have the m when the panel is at maximum tilt. To allow courage to agree to this simple threefold boundary buffer and to account for the agenda? We pray that you will. topography of the land, a maximum height of

4.2 m would need to be assessed as part of Source: ARRCC this modification.

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Commissioner to convene Ms Grace said claims by the Opposition and industry that regional jobs were under threat roundtable on solar farm by the solar regulations were unfounded. safety 25 June “Labourers jobs were never under threat. Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace has What the regulations did was to provide today asked the Electrical Safety clarity on the safety standards for electrical Commissioner to convene an urgent industry work on solar farms to ensure the safety of all roundtable to discuss safety in large-scale workers and the community at large. There solar farms. were many jobs that labourers could continue to do under the regulations,” she said. The Minister made the request after the Court of Appeal dismissed an application by the “The safety risks for workers installing solar State Government to overturn a recent ruling panels on large-scale solar farms, including which invalidated solar farm safety electrical shock and fire, are very real and regulations which came into effect last remains a significant concern for the month. Government.

“The Palaszczuk Government accepts today’s “The evidence is also very clear – the Electrical decision of the Court of Appeal but is Safety Office and Workplace Health and disappointed by the result,” Ms Grace said. Safety Queensland have conducted more than 200 audits of large-scale solar farms across “Today’s decision is about a technical legal Queensland and issued 81 statutory notices ruling and does not deal with the substantive for a range of breaches of work health and safety reasoning behind the making of the safety and electrical safety laws.” solar farms regulation. “There are no second chances when it comes “The Government acted on the advice of an to electrical safety,” she said expert safety panel and Crown Law in relation to the making of the regulation. These breaches included unlicensed electrical work, non-compliant electrical installations “My department is currently considering the and inadequate safe work method statements full extent of the decision, including whether and emergency plans. legislative changes are required." Electrical Safety Commissioner Greg Skyring Ms Grace said today’s decision clearly also expressed disappointment and concern highlighted that Queensland’s electrical safety over the today’s decision. laws had not kept pace with new and emerging technologies, including large-scale “The solar farm regulations provided clarity solar farms. and guidance for the industry and it is great shame it has been knocked out by a “The Electrical Safety Act has not undergone technicality – the safety risks remain despite any significant changes in 17 years. A great today’s decision,” Mr Skyring said. deal of technological change and the emergence of new industries have occurred “During the stakeholder consultations I was since this time,” she said. very concerned to hear that unlicensed workers were commonly ‘creeping’ into the “It is important our safety laws reflect territory of performing electrical work, such contemporary industry and are able to as the earthing of installations, cabling and respond to new and emerging industries, such removal of connected panels. as large-scale solar farms.”

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“I continue to support the Government in “The industry should never have had to go their efforts to ensure this industry and the through the courts to resolve something that jobs it creates can grow but not at the cost of could easily have been worked out with a full safety”, Commissioner Skyring said. and proper consultation process,” Mr Thornton said. The Electrical Safety Office will continue to actively monitor compliance at solar farms “Queensland’s courts have now determined throughout the state and ensure that work is twice that the government’s regulation conducted safely and electricians undertake requiring licensed electricians to do the work electrical work in-line with the current of labourers and trades assistants is legislation. inconsistent with the Electrical Safety Act. That is because it is not electrical work. This Source: Queensland Government decision is good news for regional jobs and communities, and good news for the clean energy transition in Queensland. Regional jobs and communities “After three months of chaos and uncertainty the big winners from court of in the large-scale solar sector in Queensland, appeal decision on solar we look forward to being able to get on with the job of building and investing in new clean 25 June energy projects worth billions of dollars that A Queensland Court of Appeal decision today the state needs to meet its renewable energy to uphold a Supreme Court ruling striking out target. a state government regulation for solar farms is good news for regional jobs and “The solar industry recognises that safety is communities in the state, the Clean Energy paramount. We look forward to working Council said. collaboratively with the government and all

relevant stakeholders to achieve our shared Under the legislation, licensed electrical aims of safely delivering its 50 per cent workers were required to locate, mount, fix renewable energy target by 2030,” he said. and remove unplugged solar panels at solar projects above 100 kilowatts, adding Source: Clean Energy Council significant costs and red tape for no clear benefit. This is work that has been performed successfully on dozens of projects by skilled labourers and trades assistants. Tilt Renewables announces strategic review of Snowtown 2 The Electrical Safety (Solar Farms) 26 June Amendment Regulation 2019 (Qld), which Since the establishment of Tilt Renewables came into force on 13 May, had been ruled as a standalone business, a key strategic invalid by the Supreme Court of Queensland priority has been delivering maximum value on 29 May, following a challenge by from our development pipeline. This Maryrorough Solar – owners of the Brigalow demands a constant focus on balance sheet Solar Farm near Pittsworth in southern efficiency to ensure shareholder capital is Queensland. available to execute on our highest value

opportunities. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane

Thornton said the development and Consistent with this strategy, Tilt Renewables introduction of the state government’s has decided to conduct a strategic review of regulation had been rushed. its ownership of the operational Snowtown 2

wind farm in South Australia. As an industry

Page 11 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) leading developer and long term owner and New Warada joint entity to operator of renewable generation assets, Tilt Renewables completed construction of target clean energy the Snowtown 2 Wind Farm in 2014, which investments with backing of now has a successful operating history of more than 5 years. At 270MW the project is CEFC, Ironstone currently the largest asset owned by Tilt 26 June Renewables and is one of the largest in the The CEFC and Ironstone Capital have signalled Australian market. Importantly, the project their intention to increase their commitment has a long term offtake contract in place for to clean energy investments through the all electricity and renewable energy creation of a specialist joint venture, Warada certificates produced, providing price Capital. certainty out until 2035. Warada is a new, integrated development and Over the last two years Tilt Renewables has fund management company that will draw on progressed two further projects from its the established experience and networks of development pipeline, with the construction its two founders. of the 54MW Salt Creek Wind Farm successfully completed in 2018 and the recent It will focus on investments in early stage commencement of construction of the greenfield projects across a range of 336MW , which is due renewable energy and energy efficiency to be completed in 2020. Both of these opportunities, recognising such projects can projects have long‐term offtake contracts in struggle to raise essential early-stage risk place (100% of electricity at Salt Creek and capital. circa 87% of electricity and renewable energy certificates at Dundonnell) and the level of Warada will also invest in operating contracted revenue across Tilt Renewables’ brownfield assets where there is a capacity to asset base will remain above 80% once improve returns and sustainability through Dundonnell is operational. technology enhancements.

Considering the strong revenue contracting Warada CEO Alistair Craib said: “We see position and the near‐term investment investment potential across early-stage solar options potentially available from Tilt and wind projects, energy storage, electricity Renewables’ high quality development network enhancements and the use of pipeline, this is an appropriate time to distributed energy technologies across the consider strategic options from the existing built environment. asset base, including changes in ownership. At this stage, no decisions have been made “We’re also targeting clean energy related and there is no certainty that the review of investments in the natural resources, Snowtown 2 will lead to any transaction. transport and agriculture sectors which involve sustainability, energy efficiency, Tilt Renewables will update the market with renewable energy and low carbon any material outcomes from the strategic opportunities. review in due course. “Through Warada, we will provide end-to-end Lazard has been engaged to assist in project development and investment undertaking the strategic review and MUFG is management services to achieve robust providing debt advisory services. sustainability outcomes while maximising returns for our clients.” Source: Tilt Renewables

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Warada is an indigenous word for Waratah, of economic activity, beyond the important an iconic Australian flower known for its area of renewable energy. adaptability. The CEFC, which is acquiring a 50 per cent equity stake in Warada, is “Our investment in Warada will give the committing up to $100 million for potential investment community access to a strong investment in projects identified by the new pipeline of clean energy investment entity. Ironstone is a leading adviser in the opportunities, particularly those with an renewable energy sector. appropriate balance between investment returns, innovation and decarbonisation. As CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said: “By investing an experienced equity investor, we can also development equity through Warada, we can help project proponents overcome early-stage become more closely involved in project capital constraints and positively shape conceptualisation, design and emissions outcomes.” implementation, while ensuring a pathway for potential further investment in projects at As Warada CEO, Mr Craib brings deep financial close. experience and a long history of working in the renewable energy sector in Australia and “This also provides us with the opportunity to internationally. Mr Craib has led numerous further develop the Australian domestic transactions in the renewable energy sector, capabilities in the local renewable energy including the contractual negotiations to sector, which is currently dominated by finalise the development of the 206MW offshore participants. This is pivotal to our Collgar Wind Farm in Western Australia. Mr policy objective of supporting the orderly Craib was CEO of the company during transition of the Australian economy to a construction and its first two years of decarbonised future.” operations, successfully leading the company to complete construction ahead of schedule Ironstone Director Michael Siede said: and significantly ahead of budget. “Warada is an excellent example of how Ironstone develops innovative solutions to Source: CEFC serve and support our clients. We are wholly committed to assisting our clients meet their investment objectives across the full breath of Risen Energy progressing our financial services capabilities.” construction of the Yarranlea Ironstone Director Aaron Simcock added: Solar Farm “Ironstone is excited to be developing this 26 June initiative with the CEFC. We have developed a The construction of Risen Energy (Australia)’s market position as one of Australia’s leading 100 megawatts AC Yarranlea Solar Farm is financial advisors in the renewable energy progressing to schedule. sector and this initiative further highlights our commitment to the sector”. The solar installation is located near

Pittsworth, approximately 50km west of The CEFC has developed a $1.2 billion equity Toowoomba on the Darling Downs. The solar portfolio since it began investing, working farm is approximately 250ha in area, consists alongside 11 key fund managers. of over 360,000 Risen 360/365W Mono

1500VDC solar panels mounted on a single CEFC Equity lead Rory Lonergan added: “This axis tracking system and will generate and investment approach is key to developing deliver clean, renewable electricity to power institutionally-focussed clean energy up to 32,000 homes. investment opportunities across broad areas

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The Yarranlea Solar Farm will connect to the The Yarranlea Solar Farm is utilising local power grid using the existing Ergon Energy resources where ever possible and we are infrastructure, located close to the working with the local community to deliver development site. This will allow transmission the project with a minimum of disruption. To of power into the Middle Ridge Bulk Supply date, approximately 65% of the workers have Substation for ultimate use in the been sourced from the Darling Downs area. Toowoomba and Darling Downs area. Once operational, the solar farm will require 3-5 full time workers to maintain the The bulk earthworks were completed earlier installation. this year by Sedl civil contractors, a local Toowoomba based firm and the substation Local nursery identity Penny McKinlay is co- installation is being progressed by Yurika, the ordinating the planting of screening “commercial” arm of Energy Queensland. All vegetation surrounding the solar farm. Penny civil works, including upgrading of some roads has arranged the propagation of 7,000+ adjoining the site have been undertaken in seedlings and these will be planted once accordance with Council issued Operational weather conditions are favourable. Works Permits. Construction of the Yarranlea Solar Farm is To ensure the project complies with scheduled to be completed in October 2019 environmental and planning requirements and once commissioned will supply green and minimises potential environmental power to homes, businesses and industries in impacts, a Construction Environmental the Toowoomba and Darling Downs area. The Management Plan (CEMP) has been prepared completed facility has a projected life of 30 for the project. This CEMP includes specific years. At the end of the facility’s useful requirements to reduce impacts from erosion operating life, all physical infrastructure will and sedimentation, dust, traffic , flora and be removed, and the land returned to its fauna impacts, weeds and other former agricultural use. environmental elements. The Yarranlea Solar Farm will contribute to The Monford Group, a construction firm with the green footprint of the state in support of sound solar farm experience is the primary the Queensland Government’s Green Policy. construction contractor. Yarranlea Solar Farm As owners of the Yarranlea Solar Farm project, is a construction site which adheres to strict Risen Energy (Australia) is progressing the occupational health and safety rules. project from detailed engineering design, Monfords have recently completed the through construction, commissioning and installation of the mechanical elements of the ultimately the operation of the solar farm. solar farm. This included the pile driving of the supports for the panel trackers, the “As owners of the Yarranlea Solar Farm assembly of the trackers and the mounting of project, Risen Energy (Australia) is the Risen Energy solar panels. progressing the project from detailed engineering design, through construction, “The project is currently in the electrical commissioning and ultimately the operation installation phase. This includes the placing of the solar farm. We are using our latest PV and cabling of the container mounted SMA panel technology to allow it to supply power inverters and routing of cables to connect the to the grid. Ultimately, integrated battery inverters to the solar farm substation. storage will be incorporated in the solar farm Approximately 110 workers are currently on to provide continuous power during periods site” said Andrew Owen, Renewable of peak demand” said Eric Lee, General Development Manager, Risen Energy Manager Risen Energy (Australia). (Australia). Source: Risen Energy

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Hydro to deliver more power Genex announces successful to the people capital raising of $16.2m to 26 June advance the Jemalong Solar Thousands more households are a step closer to accessing clean and reliable electricity after Project the NSW Government approved the first stage 27 June of the $300 million Shoalhaven Hydro Genex Power Limited (ASX: GNX, Genex or Expansion project. Company) is pleased to announce the successful undertaking of a Share Placement Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob (Placement) of 67,482,878 new Fully Paid Stokes today announced geological works for Ordinary Shares (Shares) to both existing and the major upgrade have been given the go new sophisticated and institutional ahead. shareholders to advance the Company’s Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) in New South “This transformative project on the South Wales. Coast has the potential to significantly boost energy security in NSW, while also delivering The Placement was oversubscribed. renewable power to consumers across the State,” Mr Stokes said. The shares under the Placement will be issued at a price of $0.24 per Share, with EL&C “The upgrade would see an additional 235 Baillieu Limited (Baillieu) and Euroz Securities MW of clean energy generated, bringing the Limited (Euroz) acting as Joint Lead Managers site’s total output to 475 MW, or enough to the Placement. energy to power 160,000 homes.” The funds from the Placement will The expansion of Shoalhaven Hydro was predominantly be used for: declared a Critical State Significant - Reaching financial close of the JSP; Infrastructure project late last year. - Working capital; and - Costs associated with the Placement. Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said the project would help the NSW Commenting on the completion of the Government achieve its target of reaching Placement, Genex CEO, James Harding said: net-zero emissions by 2050. “Genex is delighted with the strong response to the placement and would like to “The Shoalhaven Hydro Expansion project acknowledge the support shown by existing would go a long way in helping NSW transition and new investors to the Company’s strategy to a clean energy future,” Mr Kean said. of growing cash flows from its expanding portfolio of diverse renewable infrastructure “Pumped hydro stations act like a battery. projects across and They provide firm energy when intermittent Queensland. Funds raised from the placement sources of power like solar and wind are will complete the equity funding requirement offline.” for Jemalong which, we believe, has the potential to double Genex’s revenue following The applicant, , will now need to generation commencement in 2020. submit an Environmental Impact Statement to the NSW Government before the main Following the signing of the share subscription upgrade works, involving the construction of a agreement with J-POWER earlier this month, hydroelectric pump and power station, can which is subject to the approval of begin. shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting to be held in early August, Genex has Source: NSW Government

Page 15 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) now secured, subject to conditions, the equity based maintenance technicians at Gullen funding requirements for financial close of its Range Wind Farm and when Biala Wind Farm other key growth project under development, construction is complete, this crew will be the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project (K2- expanded to maintain the Biala wind turbines. Hydro). Completion of the final milestones is expected to see Genex funded to reach If you are a sub-contractor who is interested financial close for JSP and K2-Hydro in the in taking part in the project, you can register next quarter.” your details on our website. We will pass your details on to our primary contractors Source: Genex Power (www.bialawindfarm.com).

Construction of Biala Wind Farm will take Biala Wind Farm primary approximately 18-months to complete. It is expected the wind farm will commence contractors announced exporting energy to the national grid in July 27 June 2020 and will be completed in November We’ve made a big step forward this month 2020. toward construction of the Biala Wind Farm. We have appointed the construction Source: BJCE contractors who will complete the work. Three different contractors have been awarded contracts. Interconnector gets major

Consolidated Power Projects Australia or CPP project status will complete the electrical works, including 27 June installation of the underground high voltage In another significant step towards the cables on the wind farm and across to BJCE’s proposed SA-NSW interconnector, the existing substation at Gullen Range Wind Marshall Liberal Government has granted the Farm. They will also extend the existing nation-building infrastructure Major Project substation so that the electricity from Biala Status. Wind Farm can be passed on to the electricity grid. CPP has completed the electrical works Major Project Status recognises the economic on 35 wind farm projects and 19 wind farm significance of the interconnector to South substations. We are confident they will do an Australia and delivers a rigorous whole of excellent job. government assessment process.

CATCON will complete the civil works on the The $1.5 billion SA-NSW interconnector will wind farm site. This includes upgrading site deliver cheaper electricity to consumers in junctions on Grabben Gullen road, new both states whilst improving reliability across unsealed tracks to each of the wind turbines the network. and a concrete foundation for each wind turbine. Modelling released today shows that small and medium businesses with significant The wind turbines will be supplied and electricity consumption will save many maintained by Goldwind, the world’s largest thousands of dollars each year when the wind turbine manufacturer in 2018. Goldwind interconnector is energised. turbines are also installed at our . Goldwind is headquartered in “Significantly reduced electricity bills for small Beijing and the Australian arm has grown businesses will be good for jobs, investment rapidly, employing 212 people nationally. and the local economy,” said Minister for Goldwind Australia employ fourteen locally Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

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“The SA-NSW interconnector also delivers an Transmission investments set average $66 savings for households and will deliver a raft of renewable energy projects to unlock new capabilities in and hundreds of local jobs along its proposed Victoria's energy systems route.” 28 June AEMO has today released the 2019 Victorian Steve Masters, ElectraNet chief executive, Annual Planning Report (VAPR) which also welcomed the awarding of Major Project assesses the adequacy of the Declared Shared Status to the SA-NSW interconnector. Network (DSN) to meet reliability and security needs over the next 10 years. “Receiving Major Development status highlights the significance of the proposed The report finds that Victoria's energy electricity interconnector between South landscape is continuing to undergo Australia and New South Wales, which will unprecedented change, with strong investor reduce power prices, improve energy security interest in western parts of the state and and support the transition to a lower carbon rapidly increasing uptake of non-synchronous economy,” said Mr Masters. generation changing the technical characteristics of the system. “This announcement is an important milestone for this project, which will be the “The growth of renewable resources in first interconnector built between any western Victoria means that the geographic Australian states in 15 years. diversity of generation resources is now shifting away from the Latrobe Valley into “ElectraNet welcomes the State parts of the state where the network is less Government’s decision as this will ensure a developed and able to cope with the new single, integrated and streamlined assessment forms of generation” said Chief System Design of the development by all relevant & Engineering Officer, Dr Alex Wonhas. authorities, agencies and stakeholders. “AEMO is working closely with the Victorian “We will continue with our comprehensive State Government and industry to progress stakeholder engagement and preparing for significant network investment projects, regulatory approvals with the support of the including the Western Victoria Renewable South Australian Government, in conjunction Integration Regulatory Investment Test for with our New South Wales project partner, Transmission (RIT-T), which will help improve TransGrid.” supply availability, manage voltage control challenges, and unlock the high-quality “South Australia currently only has renewable energy zones detailed in our 2018 interconnection with Victoria which puts us at Integrated System Plan,” said Dr Wonhas. the end of the line and vulnerable to the type system risks that saw the entire state blacked These network investment projects also out in 2016,” said Minister van Holst include the transmission upgrade Pellekaan. recommendations in our Victorian Reactive Power Support RIT-T Project Assessment Draft “This new additional interconnector will bring Report (PADR), which will improve AEMO’s South Australia into the loop with the rest of ability to manage voltage control challenges the national energy market, bringing cheaper and deliver net benefits to our energy power, greater reliability and increased export markets. opportunities for our renewable energy.” The VAPR concludes that under normal Source: SA Government operating conditions, Victoria’s transmission

Page 17 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) network remained secure in 2018-19, (DER), such as rooftop solar and home however, record-breaking high temperatures batteries, contributing to new record periods coupled with a tightening supply-demand of minimum demand. balance, contributed to periods of supply shortfall. “For the first time in Victoria’s history, minimum demand occurred in the early “Data from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology afternoon rather than overnight. This shows that this January was the hottest supports AEMO’s analysis that residential month ever recorded in Australian history. rooftop solar will continue to be a major The operational challenges these extreme energy resource in Australia’s National weather conditions produce support our need Electricity Market, forever changing the to optimise Victoria’s transmission and demand patterns,” said Dr Wonhas. infrastructure systems, which will ultimately help deliver energy supply where and when To view the full VAPR or PADR report, please it’s needed most,” said Dr Wonhas. visit the AEMO website.

The VAPR notes that weather patterns were Source: AEMO not the only record-breaker for the 2018-19 year, with Distributed Energy Resources

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