Acquisition of Liverpool Range Wind Farm Project
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Project Update Week ending 8 March 2019 World-first dispatchable renewable energy technology developer seeks finance for commercial project Successful commissioning and operation of Vast “The success of our pilot plant has proven our Solar’s 1 MW pilot project is delivering technology can deliver dispatchable dispatchable renewable power to the grid and renewable energy to the grid and we are driving the company’s next move. The world- confident that, at scale, our technology will leading concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) produce power at a lower cost than coal, gas company is now looking to raise $75m from or other renewable storage technologies.” strategic partners to build its business and help finance its first utility scale power plant. Working with ANU and UNSW – recognised globally for their renewables research – Vast CSP is rapidly becoming the preferred means Solar has become a world-leader in the use of generating cost-effective dispatchable and management of sodium, which is far renewable power in sunny regions. The more abundant and accessible than lithium. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects 633GW of installed CSP by While grid-scale lithium batteries can assist 2050, with China investing heavily and South grid stability over short periods, Vast Solar’s Africa recently adding CSP to firm its grid technology has the potential to supply energy following issues with coal plants. to the grid for many hours while the sun isn’t shining. Plants can be configured with 4-16 CSP technology uses heliostats – mirrors that hours of storage and generators of up to track the sun in two directions – to 500MW. concentrate solar radiation onto a receiving tower. Unlike traditional CSP, Vast Solar uses Vast Solar is working with investment bank sodium as the heat transfer fluid to capture Moelis Australia to raise $75m to develop its the concentrated solar energy, which can then business and finance its upcoming 50MW be stored and used on-demand to drive a hybrid project, comprising a 30MW CSP plant conventional turbine and generate electricity. with 10 hours storage and a 20MW photovoltaic plant. Vast Solar’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency-backed pilot project at Jemalong, Source: Vast Solar NSW, is the first modular CSP facility using sodium in the world. The unique modular design and world-leading thermal control overcome many of the challenges faced by other CSP technologies. It is the missing link in the renewables transition, according to Vast Solar CEO, Craig Wood. Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) PROJECT NEWS needed, and are referred to as construction Snowy 2.0 elements. Construction elements include: • construction compounds at Talbingo, Lobs A Snowy 2.0 Main Works Scoping Report has Hole, Marica and Tantangara; been released as part of the NSW state • construction adits at Talbingo and government approvals process. Tantangara; • site‐based accommodation camps at Lobs Snowy Hydro Limited, the operator of the Hole and Tantangara; Snowy Mountains Hydro‐electric Scheme, is • road establishment and other access proposing to build and operate Snowy 2.0. improvements and upgrades to allow access Snowy 2.0 is a project that will increase the to construction areas; pumped hydro‐electric capacity within the • management of excavated rock from existing Snowy Scheme by linking the tunnelling activities, including: Tantangara and Talbingo reservoirs with - permanent subaqueous storage within tunnels feeding a new underground power Talbingo and Tantangara reservoirs; and station. The project will involve tunnelling and - temporary on‐land storage within the KNP excavation works between the two reservoirs and temporary and/or permanent storage to depths of up to 1 kilometre. outside of KNP; Snowy 2.0 is being developed in phases with • supporting services infrastructure including this Scoping Report addressing the second construction power, water and wastewater phase of the project, known as the Snowy 2.0 infrastructure, and communication Main Works. The scope includes the infrastructure; and construction and operation of Snowy 2.0 Main • additional barge access infrastructure and Works. excavated rock handling facilities and infrastructure at both Talbingo and The following key design elements are needed Tantangara for subaqueous placement of for the operation of Snowy 2.0, and are excavated material. referred to as operational infrastructure: • an underground pumped hydro‐electric Transmission Connection power station complex; A separate report has been produced for the • water intake structures at Tantangara and transmission connection element of the Talbingo reservoirs; Snowy 2.0 project. TransGrid is proposing to • power waterway tunnels, chambers and construct and operate a new transmission shafts; connection between the proposed Snowy 2.0 • access tunnels; pumped hydro and generation project to the • new and upgraded roads to allow ongoing existing high voltage transmission network. access and maintenance; and The main elements of the project include a • power and communication infrastructure, new dual double-circuit overhead including: transmission line connection supported by - a cableyard to facilitate connection between steel lattice towers to a new substation, a the national electricity market (NEM) short overhead connection from the electricity transmission network and Snowy substation to TransGrid's existing network, 2.0; establishment and upgrade of access tracks - permanent auxiliary power supply and roads and ancillary activities to facilitate connection; and construction. The total length of the - communications cable. connection is about 9 kilometres. The estimated capital investment value is $250mil. To support the construction of operational infrastructure, the following temporary and permanent design elements and activities are Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) A new framework for There will be further opportunities for stakeholder input on access and charging transmission network access arrangements throughout the year, including and charging: have your say public workshops. We aim to deliver the 1 March COAG Energy Council a final package of The Australian Energy Market Commission is proposed regulatory changes in December calling for submissions on proposed reforms 2019. to the way generators access and use the electricity transmission network. We are also Source: AEMC seeking feedback on proposed changes to the charging arrangements which enable transmission businesses to recover the costs NEW PROJECT of building and maintaining transmission Bergalia Solar Farm infrastructure, both within and between Location: Moruya, in the Far South Coast regions. region of New South Wales Capacity: 10.365 MW A huge amount of generation will be built in Developer: Rio Indygen Development the national electricity market in the coming LGA: Eurobodalla Shire Council years, taking the place of ageing coal-fired Estimated cost: $10.365mil power. With more generators seeking to Description: The proposed solar farm would connect, the transmission network is be located on 42.15 hectares of rural expected to become increasingly congested. farmland currently used for grazing cattle. The proposal includes a solar array of To help deliver the right amount of new approximately 30,488 solar panels (340 Wp) transmission infrastructure to meet future mounted in rows on tracker tables and network needs, while keeping costs to approximately 4000 array posts, 12 inverters consumers as low as possible, today’s (2500 kvA) distributed over the site, and a consultation paper sets out recommended Distribution Network Operator (DNO) changes to the framework for transmission substation and a customer substation. network access and charging. Status: Placed on public exhibition by Eurobodalla Shire Council from 6 March to 22 Stakeholders are invited to comment on: March 2019. - phased reforms to access arrangements, Contact: David Ashton starting with dynamic regional pricing to Director reflect where network congestion is Indygen happening in real time, and moving to a Contact form available at system where generators are able to buy firm https://www.indygenutility.com/contact.html rights to use the transmission network or be compensated if they are constrained off - reforms to transmission charging arrangements, including those relating to The solar system that leaves inter-regional transmission. This includes competition in the shade looking at whether the cost of a particular 5 March interconnector is adequately attributed to the 2018 saw unprecedented growth in large- region which benefits from that scale solar PV with nearly two gigawatts (GW) interconnector. of new capacity registered with AEMO. More than two thirds of this capacity came from Submissions on the consultation paper are solar systems that actually track and follow due by 29 March 2019. the movements of the sun. Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Millions of Australian consumers are less winter midday output than fixed-axis embracing and utilising rooftop solar energy systems. in homes across the country, and increasingly taking control of their energy consumption. Today, there is approximately 1750 But it’s also a flourishing time for large scale megawatts (MW) of tracking and 800 MW of commercial solar or utility-scale solar fixed solar capacity registered with AEMO, system(s). For example, in 2018, AEMO had and the vast majority