Project Update Week ending 31 January 2020

Record new renewable capacity in 2019 23 January Australia is a world leader in renewable Emissions from the electricity grid are forecast energy. In 2019, we set new records for to fall by 23 per cent by 2030 as the share of renewable capacity installation and total renewable energy increases to more than a electricity generated from renewables. third in the early 2020s and 48 per cent by 2030. The Clean Energy Regulator estimates that a record 6.3 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable The key challenge to ensuring continued capacity was installed in 2019, 24 per cent strong growth in new renewable capacity is to above the previous record set in 2018. drive down the cost of storage and backup, Electricity generated from renewables is also including grid updates. estimated to have increased to a record 44 terawatt hours (TWh), 20 per cent above the That’s why the Government has invested $1.4 previous year. billion into Snowy 2.0 and MarinusLink, established a $1 billion Grid Reliability Fund The Clean Energy Regulator expects that 2020 and recently announced support terms for the will be the biggest year yet for electricity first two UNGI projects. generation from renewables (both in absolute terms and year-on-year growth) with a These are important initiatives in the forecast 26 per cent increase. Government’s A Fair Deal on Energy policy and will contribute to meeting our $70 per Based on Bloomberg New Energy Finance MWh price target and maintaining and data, Australia invested $7.7 billion or $308 increasing reliable supply of electricity. per person in renewable energy in 2019. This places us ahead of countries like the United View the energy policy blueprint here: States ($233 per person), Japan ($179 per https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-policy- person) and the United Kingdom ($109 per blueprint-fair-deal-energy. person) on a per capita basis and is more than triple the per capita investment of countries Notes: like Denmark ($95 per person), France ($90 1 Matthew Stocks, Ken Baldwin, Andrew per person) and Germany ($73 per person). Blakers, Powering ahead: Australia leading the world in renewable energy build rates, 4 Our per capita installation rate has increased September 2019, available at: more than five-fold since 2015. Last year, an https://energy.anu.edu.au/files/Renewable% Australian National University (ANU) study 20energy%20target%20report%20September confirmed this is four times the per capita %202019_1_0.pdf rate of the European Union, United States and Japan and ten times the global average.1 Source: Federal Government

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New energy world through utilising existing gas infrastructure,” Mr Dillon said. innovation 28 January Networks are partnering with stakeholders Innovations in energy networks will allow such as universities, energy retailers and more participation by customers and enable a governments to ensure expertise is sustainable energy future according to a maintained during these projects. Find out report released by Energy Networks Australia. more about innovation here.

Energy Networks Australia Chief Executive Source: Energy Networks Australia Officer, Andrew Dillon, said innovation was essential as the generation, delivery and NEW PROJECT consumption of electricity underwent extensive change. Hay 2A Solar Farm Location: Mid-Western Highway, Hay NSW “We don’t use electricity in the same way Capacity: 8 MW DC anymore, both in terms of how much we use Developer: ITP Development and when we use it,” Mr Dillon said. LGA: Hay Shire Council Status: Development application referred to “Electric vehicles, household PV solar and the Western Regional Planning Panel battery storage are tipping the system on its Estimated cost: $6.6mil head. Description: The Hay 2A Solar Farm will have a DC array capacity of 8 MW and an AC output “Whereas demand was high in the middle of of 5 MW on one of two new lots. Proposed the day, it’s now low, and where we had 14.15 hectare Lot 1 will be occupied by the steady generation from coal, we now have approved Hay 1A Solar Farm. 6.42 hectare Lot variable renewables. This makes innovation 2 will accommodate the proposed Hay 2A essential to ensure we can continue to Solar Farm. There are proposed to be ~18,500 provide reliable power as affordably as solar modules installed in 26 blocks of possible. modules. Two 2.5 MW inverter stations will be installed at the solar farm. Underground “As our network evolves, innovation is also cables will connect to the Essential Energy enabling customers to have a greater say in 33kV feeder that runs parallel to the highway how their system operates and deliver a and then connects to the Hay 33 substation. future where consumers have much greater Contact: Mishka Talent control over their energy.” Portfolio Manager The Network Innovation 2020 Report ITP Development highlights some of the significant research, Tel: (02) 6257 3511 development and deployment occurring in Email: [email protected] power networks as new techniques and technologies are investigated to manage changes in demand and generation in the most cost-effective manner.

The report includes projects such as the 2019 Industry Innovation Award-winning Dalrymple Battery project by ElectraNet.

“The transition to renewable gas such as biogas and hydrogen is also underway to provide zero-emission energy for household heating and cooking as well as energy storage,

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An open letter on Australian world is only at the beginning of the climate change phenomenon. The current impacts are bushfires and climate: Urgent happening with just 1 Celsius of global need for deep cuts in carbon temperature increase, but we are set for the best part of another degree even if very emissions strong international action is taken to reduce 29 January emissions. This means further increases in The tragedy of this summer’s bushfires extreme fire risk, heat waves and flooding commands our attention, and after aiding and rains; ecosystems degraded and wild species supporting the victims it is important to learn forced to migrate or vanish; agricultural from the event. The scale and ferocity of the activities moved or abandoned, challenging recent fires are unprecedented since our food security; and so on. If strong action is European settlement of this country. They not taken, environmental degradation and arrived at the end of a year with the lowest social disruption will be much greater and in average rainfall and the highest average many cases adaptation will no longer be temperatures ever recorded across Australia. achievable. It would be naive to assume that Climate change has arrived, and without such a world will still support human societies significant action greater impacts on Australia in their current form and maintain human are inevitable. well-being.

While many factors have contributed to the This dire outlook demands stronger mitigation bushfire crisis, the role of exceptional heat of carbon emissions. Many argue that actions and dryness cannot be ignored. Temperatures to achieve this would be economically nearly everywhere on Earth have been rising destructive. This claim has no basis, nor is it for decades, a clear result of the buildup of consistent with Australia’s traditional greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from optimism and ingenuity, nor with historical use and other human activities. The experience. Similar objections were raised in increasing variability of rainfall across the past against government policies to limit Australia, bringing more dry years, is a air pollution, environmental toxins and ozone- consequence. destroying chemicals, but we collectively found ways to achieve mitigation at These outcomes were predicted decades ago. manageable cost, and with net benefits to We should listen to the voices of not only our society that are clear in hindsight. scientists, but also those who are on the front lines fighting fires. The message is clear: the A transition to lower, and eventually net zero situation is becoming ever less manageable as emissions, is a huge task but is achievable and extreme-fire-risk weather becomes more far less risky and irresponsible than allowing common, while conditions suitable for unmitigated warming. This transition requires controlled burns to reduce fuel loads are determination on the part of leaders, as well becoming less frequent. While much remains as empathy, aid and forward planning for to be learned about the impacts of climate communities disadvantaged by the transition. change, more than enough studies have been Large transformations in the face of conducted to tell us we have a serious comparable challenges have been successfully problem that requires urgent changes to be achieved in the past, such as the development made. of road and mass transportation systems, waste-water and sewage handling to minimise We welcome government actions to help diseases, and many others. These current victims and improve adaptation to transformations created new jobs and whole future fires, as well as its acceptance of a role industries, and will do so again. for climate change in the catastrophe. But this is not enough, because the greenhouse gas amounts driving warming are still rising: the

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Australia cannot solve climate change on its NEW PROJECT own. Reducing emissions is a global challenge Dandenong Waste-to-Energy that requires collective action. But Australia’s current visibility as ground zero for both Project climate impacts and climate policy uncertainty Location: Dandenong South, VIC presents a unique opportunity for us to Capacity: 7.9 MW emerge as a leader on this challenge. Doing so Developer: Great Southern Waste will aid our economy, strengthen our standing Technologies in international affairs and relations with Status: October 2019, Victorian EPA received neighbours, and help secure Australia and the a works approval application world from the impacts of climate change. Description: The Dandenong waste-to-energy Much research has already been done to facility would process 100,000 tonnes of identify the policies and technologies that can municipal solid waste and commercial and move us to where we need to go. What is industrial waste per year and provide a lacking is the courage to implement them on net benefit of the required scale. We call on all governments 142,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to acknowledge the gravity of the threat per year as compared to landfilling. The posed by climate change driven by human proposal facility utilises gasification activities, and to support and implement technology developed by Energos Technology evidence-based policy responses to reduce AS. greenhouse gas emissions in time to Contact: Bill Keating safeguard against catastrophe. We owe this to Chief Operating Officer younger generations and those who come Great Southern Waste Technologies after them, who will bear the brunt of our Tel: (03) 9376 3422 decisions. Email: [email protected]

Signed the ARC Laureate Fellows NEW PROJECT Derby Solar Farm

Location: Derby, VIC NEW PROJECT Capacity: 100 MW Bridgewater Solar Farm Developer: ACEnergy Location: 8km east of Bridgewater, near Status: Approved by Loddon Shire Council in Bendigo in VIC December 2019 Capacity: 55 MW AC Description: The proposed Derby Solar Farm Developer: BayWa r.e. consists of approximately 270 ha of land Status: Development application being proposed to be developed with solar panels considered by Loddon Shire Council and other associated infrastructure for the Description: The Bridgewater Solar Farm will purpose of producing energy. The subject site have a total area of approximately 134 ha. is located within close proximity to the Calder The development will consist of solar arrays, a Highway and will be accesses via the Derby control compound, substation, a number of Serpentine Road. Approximately 3620 solar internal access tracks, laydown areas and panel arrays will be installed. general grid connection infrastructure. Stage Contact: Rodd Zhang 2 of the project will involve installation of Principal Engineer batteries. ACEnergy Contact: Peter McPherson Tel: (03) 9813 2307 Business Development Manager Email: [email protected] BayWa r.e. Email: [email protected]

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NEW PROJECT “The battery will enable AGL to leverage Vena Energy Australia to excess solar generation in and provide capacity when the Coopers Gap up Queensland’s Farm and other renewable power sources are biggest battery not generating,” Mr Redman said.

29 January Head of Vena Energy Australia Mr Anil Nangia Renewable power producer Vena Energy said local employment and procurement Australia announced today that it will soon opportunities would be established begin construction of Queensland’s largest throughout the 12-month construction grid-scale battery near Wandoan in the program, with the labour force anticipated to Western Downs. be 30 strong during construction.

Vena Energy’s Battery Energy Storage System “We plan to significantly invest in the local (BESS) will have an initial capacity of 100 region, with local purchasing likely to include megawatts (MW) and store 150 megawatt a wide range of products and services from hours of energy, which could power up to fencing contractors, concreters, welders, 57,000 average homes annually. electricians, plant and equipment operators,

transport contractors and administrators,” Mr At a signing ceremony hosted by the Minister Nangia said. for Natural Resources, Mines & Energy, Dr

Anthony Lynham, Vena Energy chief executive Mr Nangia said the BESS was the first Mr Nitin Apte said the $120 million BESS construction milestone of the company’s project represented a major milestone in the Wandoan South Project, approved to continuing modernisation of Queensland’s generate up to 1000MW of solar electricity energy supply. and 450MW of energy storage, to be

developed across several stages. “The BESS represents Queensland’s accelerating transition to a cleaner future and “Vena Energy is also advancing plans for a has the potential to utilise solar renewable $650 million solar project at the site, as part energy from existing generation,” Mr Apte of the Wandoan South Project,” he said. said.

In Australia, Vena Energy is progressing over “The BESS will encourage a positive 2,500MW of renewable energy projects investment environment for future projects as across the country and last year well as encourage broader adoption of commissioned a 95MW solar project at Tailem renewable energy in Queensland and in Bend in South Australia. Australia.”

Source: Vena Energy Vena Energy Australia will build, own and maintain the BESS while leading Australian energy retailer AGL will have full operational dispatch rights under a 15-year agreement between the two companies.

AGL CEO Brett Redman said the agreement was consistent with AGL’s strategy of developing and/or contracting flexible storage and generation to support the transition from coal generation to renewables.

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New giant battery to support South Australia as part of a joint venture with ElectraNet and in October we announced a AGL’s renewable energy drive deal with Maoneng Group to buy capacity in Queensland from four 50 MW /100 MWh batteries in 29 January NSW. AGL today announced that one of Australia’s largest grid-scale batteries will be built at “We are investigating the feasibility of Wandoan in Queensland under a 15-year pumped hydro plants at Kanmantoo in South agreement between AGL and Vena Energy Australia and Bells Mountain in NSW, which if Australia. progressed will provide more than 500 MW of new storage capacity. AGL CEO Brett Redman said the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would have a “We are also working with the New South capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) and store Wales Government's Emerging Energy 150 megawatt hours of energy, which could Program on a proposal to build a 50 MW power up to 57,000 average homes. battery at Broken Hill, we have plans for a gas firming power station in Newcastle, and we “With the signing of the agreement, work on are exploring other sites. the BESS will commence and is scheduled to take about 18 months,” Mr Redman said. “More broadly we have $1.9 billion of energy supply projects completed or in construction Vena Energy Australia will build, own and and another $2 billion in the pipeline, subject maintain the BESS while AGL will have full to feasibility and stable policy settings, which operational dispatch rights. will all help to put downward pressure on prices for customers.” “The BESS is a major milestone in the continuing modernisation of Queensland’s Source: AGL Energy energy supply and improves the reliability of the power grid,” said Vena Energy CEO Nitin Apte. NEW PROJECT Alectown Wind Farm “The project will bolster a positive investment Location: Alectown environment for future projects, as well as Capacity: 120 MW encourage broader adoption of renewable Developer: Neoen energy in Queensland and in Australia.” LGA: Parkes Estimated cost: $240mil Mr Redman said the execution of this Status: Community information session held agreement was consistent with AGL’s strategy on 6 February 2020 of developing and/or contracting flexible Description: The Alectown Wind Farm is storage and generation to support the proposed to be constructed on private land transition from coal generation to adjacent to the Goobang National Park. Over renewables. 150 jobs created during construction phase, scheduled to start in 2022, with 3-5 “The BESS will enable AGL to leverage excess permanent jobs once operational. solar generation in Queensland and provide Contact: Joanna Murphy capacity when the Project Manager and other renewable power sources are not Neoen generating,” Mr Redman said. Tel: 1800 166 188

“Early last year we delivered the Dalrymple 30 MW ESCRI battery on the Yorke Peninsula in

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PROJECT NEWS Nearly $1.5 million will be spent on the NT Defence Solar Project installation of solar panels at Hornsby Ku-ring- gai Hospital. The Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Department of Defence, submitted a Solar panels are being installed at Blacktown retail licence application to the Utilities Hospital and are due to go live in February Commission of the Northern Territory and 2020. The hospital is expected to save sought an exemption from the requirement to $194,000 every year in electricity costs. hold a network licence under the Electricity

Reform Act with respect to its limited network Port Macquarie Hospital was the first in NSW of medium voltage (11 kV) cables and Intake to have solar panels installed under this Switching Stations (ISSs). initiative. Since June 2018, nearly $224,000

has been saved on electricity costs. The Department of Defence entered into a

Power Purchase Agreement (‘PPA’) with Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said this Assure Energy in respect of a project involving initiative shows the benefits of using solar the design, construction, operation and energy to save our hospitals money and finance of on-base solar photovoltaic power reduce our carbon footprint. stations and associated battery installations at

Defence sites at Robertson Barracks (10.874 “By making our hospitals more energy- MW) and RAAF Base Darwin (3.62 MW) under efficient, these solar projects will help bring a 20-year offtake agreement. our costs down, freeing up funds that can be

invested back into the health system," Mr Defence will receive electricity from the Hazzard said. Power Producer which would primarily be used to meet Defence’s load ‘behind the Source: NSW Government meter’ at Robertson Barracks and RAAF Base

Darwin, with residual energy not used by those Bases will be sold exclusively to a licensed electricity retailer via the connection Fresh policies that unlock points at each Base. private capital investment

Source: Department of Defence could accelerate emissions cuts and boost climate change resilience Hospitals across NSW will 29 January become more energy-efficient Australia can boost its climate change resilience and accelerate emissions reductions with the installation of solar with policies that unlock private capital, the panels Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) said 29 January in response to Prime Minister Scott Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Fairfield, Canterbury and Morrison’s address to the National Press Club. John Hunter hospitals will receive $8.1 million to install solar panels. IGCC Chief Executive Officer, Emma Herd, said Australia needed prudent management of John Hunter Hospital will be the biggest climate risks that would reduce the financial, hospital solar panel project in Australia. The economic and community costs of climate $3.2 million installation of solar panels will change. This includes physical risks, such as cover 12,000 square metres of roof space. worsening drought and fires, and the economic risk of a disorderly shift to netzero emissions.

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“Investors are already making decisions on “Climate change represents a systemic risk to whether or not to deploy capital in Australia the Australian economy and communities. on the basis of their own climate change risk Investors are ready to work with governments assessments,” Ms Herd said. at all levels to unlock billions of dollars in national resilience and greater emissions “Responding to the growing frequency and reductions to safeguard our long-term intensity of extreme weather events like fires prosperity.” and drought will increasingly challenge the contingency funds of all levels of government. Source: Investor Group on Climate Change Unlocking the billions of dollars in private investment that could be deployed into adaptation measures, such as protecting WIRTGEN INVEST acquires critical infrastructure and improving building standards, is essential to boosting Australia’s Glenrowan West Solar Farm climate resilience. 30 January Today German Investment company, “The announcement of the Finkel-CSIRO WIRTGEN INVEST announce the successful review of possible national adaptation acquisition and imminent start of construction measures is a good step. To accelerate private of their first investment in Australia, the sector investment into resilience, the Glenrowan West Solar Farm. Independently implementation of the government’s National funded, the project has an installed capacity Disaster Risk Reduction Framework should of 149-megawatt peak (MWp) – positioning also be brought forward. Robust adaptation the Solar Farm as one of the largest policies will reduce the economic and renewable energy projects in Victoria. community costs of growing climate change damage and work already underway by WIRTGEN INVEST has signed the Engineering, governments can provide a solid foundation Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract to build upon. with EPC Contractor, Signal Energy Australia Pty Ltd. Construction is scheduled to “Additional measures would include an commence in February 2020 at the site updated national assessment of infrastructure located between Benalla and Wangaratta, to identify the greatest areas of climate risk. 11km south-west of the town of Glenrowan. Investors could then be engaged in adaptation In July 2019, WIRTGEN INVEST had acquired programs with a cofunding mechanism similar the project rights of the Glenrowan West to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.” Solar Project from Overland Sun Farming, the leading developer of large-scale solar projects Ms Herd said resilience measures must be in the Australian market. complimented by a broad package of public and private initiatives to make greater WIRTGEN INVEST has been advised by emissions reductions and prepare the WIRSOL Energy Pty Ltd, the Australian arm of economy for a smooth transition to net-zero the WIRCON Group, and by German-based emissions by 2050 in line with Australia’s WiNRG in the acquisition and EPC process. commitments under the Paris Agreement. WIRSOL Energy and WiNRG will continue to work on the project by providing project “The Morrison Government has an management services during construction, opportunity to create a robust and investable commissioning and ultimately operation of policy framework for accelerated emissions the Solar Farm. The Glenrowan West Solar reductions as it develops Australia’s long-term Farm is the sixth project that WIRSOL Energy climate strategy under the Paris Agreement. will deliver to the Australian market, taking its portfolio under management to 546MWp.

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WIRTGEN INVEST, WIRSOL Energy and WiNRG NEW PROJECT have a commitment to assist in meeting the Fortescue invests US$450 ever-growing worldwide demands for clean, sustainable power across households and million in energy infrastructure businesses, whilst continuing to contribute through Pilbara generation more specifically towards Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target of 50% by 2030. project Once the project reaches commercial 30 January operation in Q2 2021, the Victorian market Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue, ASX: will benefit from an additional 149MWp of FMG) today announces the US$450 million renewable capacity and the Solar Farm will Pilbara Generation Project, the next stage of provide enough energy to power the its Pilbara Energy Connect program. The equivalent of 41,000 households with green Pilbara Generation Project complements the electricity, whilst preventing the emissions of US$250 million Pilbara Transmission Project approximately 310,000 tonnes of CO2 per announced in October 2019 and will provide year. low cost power to the energy efficient Iron Bridge Magnetite Project. Jürgen and Stefan Wirtgen, Directors of WIRTGEN INVEST Holding GmbH: “WIRTGEN The Pilbara Transmission Project consists of INVEST is proud of its first investment in 275km of high voltage transmission lines Australia via its 100% owned subsidiary connecting Fortescue’s mine sites, while the Glenrowan Sun Farm Pty. Ltd. We are looking Pilbara Generation Project will include forward to good cooperation with the local 150MW of gas fired generation, together with community and to making Glenrowan West 150MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. Sun Farm shine.” This will be supplemented by large scale battery storage and will be constructed, Andy Scullion, Director of WIRSOL Energy: owned and operated by Fortescue. “We are delighted to be leading the delivery of Wirtgen’s first venture into the Australian Together, the transmission and generation market and look forward to continuing our projects, totalling US$700 million, form the presence within the local community. This is a Pilbara Energy Connect program of works significant milestone for us at WIRSOL Energy, providing Fortescue with a hybrid solar gas at almost 150MW this will be our largest Solar energy solution that will enable low cost power Farm to date, taking our portfolio under to be delivered to Iron Bridge. This allows management to over 500MW and another Fortescue to leverage its existing energy great step forward for the decarbonisation of infrastructure including the Fortescue River Australia.” Gas Pipeline and generation capacity at the Solomon Power Station and support the Robbin Russell, General Manager of Signal incorporation of large scale renewable energy. Energy: “We are excited about the opportunity to work with such a great team The Pilbara Energy Connect project builds on and on such an important project. We look the Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project which forward to working in and becoming a partner was announced last year. This landmark with the local community.” agreement with Alinta Energy will see up to 100 per cent of daytime stationary energy Source: Wirsol requirements of the Chichester Hub iron ore operations powered by renewable energy. Alinta will build, own and operate the 60MW solar PV generation facility at the Chichester Hub and 60-kilometre transmission line linking the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mining operations with Alinta Energy’s Newman gas-

Page 9 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) fired power station. On completion this will While the strong flow of projects that were integrate with the Pilbara Energy Connect committed in 2017 and 2018 are now coming program, via the Pilbara Transmission Project. online, the pipeline of new projects commencing construction has dropped Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said significantly due to the stalling of “Mining is a 24/7 operation and efficient, commitments in 2019. reliable, competitive energy generation remains an important consideration for the Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane mining sector in Western Australia. The lack of Thornton said mounting regulatory risks, under an integrated transmission network in the investment in transmission and policy uncertainty Pilbara has been a key barrier to entry for have contributed to increased risks for investors large scale renewables and Fortescue’s and resulted in a lowering in confidence and investment will address this issue. slow-down in investment commitment.

“Fortescue’s commitment of US$700 million “A continued slow-down in new investment in and transmission will put greater pressure on reliability and infrastructure will complete the integration of power prices as Australia’s old coal-fired Fortescue’s stationary energy requirements in power stations continue to close. New the Pilbara into an efficient network, while investment is critical to replacing these coal- lowering the overall cost of electricity to fired power stations and delivering on existing and future sites. Australia’s emission reduction targets,” Mr Thornton said. “By installing 150MW of solar PV as part of the Pilbara Generation Project, the modelling This reduced investment confidence was indicates we will avoid up to 285,000 tonnes reflected in the Clean Energy Council’s recent of CO2e per year in emissions, as compared to Clean Energy Outlook Index which revealed a generating electricity solely from gas. clear fall in investor confidence in the sector. Importantly, Pilbara Energy Connect allows for large scale renewable generation such as solar The top reasons for a decline in investor or wind to be connected at any point on the confidence was due to grid connection issues, a integrated network, positioning Fortescue to lack of strong national energy and climate policy readily increase our use of renewable energy and network congestions and constraints. in the future,” Ms Gaines said. Many of the rules relating to grid connection, Source: Fortescue Mining Group network investment and market design are no longer fit-for-purpose and are a significant deterrent to potential investors. Clean energy investment “These issues need to be resolved urgently if collapses as risks and Australia hopes to attract investors and uncertainty mount ensure the necessary level of new energy generation capacity.” 30 January

The level of new investment commitments in “Renewable energy has been the shining light large-scale renewable energy projects has in reducing emissions in Australia,” Mr collapsed by more than 50 per cent according Thornton said. “If we hope to maintain this, to new analysis by the Clean Energy Council we need strong leadership and collaboration which reveals a fall from 51 projects worth to address the policy gaps and regulatory $10.7 billion in 2018 down to 28 projects barriers facing new generation.” worth $4.5 billion in 2019.

Source: Clean Energy Council

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NSW energy deal to reduce “I want households and businesses paying less for their electricity and I want to continue to power prices and emissions get emissions down – this deal does both,” 31 January the Prime Minister said. The Morrison and Berejiklian governments have reached a landmark agreement to lower “There is no credible plan to lower emissions power prices for consumers, reduce emissions and keep electricity price down that does not and strengthen grid reliability. involve the greater use of gas as an important transition fuel. Through this partnership, both governments have committed to deliver a number of “This plan is about getting greater access to initiatives that will: that gas, as a vital accompaniment to our - increase gas and electricity supply in NSW by record investment in renewables. encouraging investment; - improve grid security by supporting “Our agreement also outlines a responsible transmission interconnection and network transition of the NSW electricity sector to access; and lower emissions technologies, while - support emissions reduction projects that recognising the critical contribution that deliver genuine abatement. energy dependent manufacturing jobs make to the economy. The more than $2 billion deal includes: - NSW-based emissions reductions initiatives “Energy security is an important issue for all utilising $960 million in federal funding, (with states and territories and we are committed a minimum $450 million grants and the to continuing our investment in supporting remaining $510 million a mix of grants and the security of the National Electricity Market loans) matched by $1.01 billion in direct so all Australians have access to reliable funding from NSW. power,” the Prime Minister said. - Jointly underwriting the delivery of HumeLink and the Queensland-NSW “NSW already has a pipeline of around $26 interconnectors to strength grid reliability. billion of large scale renewable and non- - Commitments from the NSW Government to renewable energy projects and the NSW facilitate investment opportunities to inject an Government has introduced a range of additional 70 petajoules of gas per year into rebates to help keep prices down as well as a the east coast market. five-year $1.4 billion Climate Change Fund,” - An undertaking from the NSW Government Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. to remove barriers to coal supply to the Mount Piper Power Station. “Our agreement with the Commonwealth - Supporting new generation projects in NSW today will ensure we continue to strengthen through the Federal Government’s $1 billion and diversify our energy sector here in New Underwriting New Generation Investment South Wales – securing traditional energy program. sources whilst growing renewable energy - Financial support for the establishment of a investment across the state. pilot renewable energy zone in the Central West to help large-scale renewable This is the first of a series of state bilateral generators pump as much as energy as energy agreements between the Federal possible into the grid. Government and state and territory governments. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the NSW energy deal was the first of many he hoped to Source: Federal Government sign with state and territory governments across Australia.

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