Project Update Week Ending 3 May 2019
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Project Update Week ending 3 May 2019 CEFC invests $30 million in world first Woolworths green bond 29 April The CEFC has invested $30 million in the “The CEFC’s investment in this bond enables Woolworths Group green bond, the first us to continue our support for Australia’s certified green bond issued by an Australian emerging green bond market, actively retailer and by a supermarket business monitor the secondary market for green globally, and an exciting milestone in the bonds and gain useful insights into the continued development of Australia’s green emissions profile of Australia’s supermarkets.” bond market. The Climate Bonds Initiative has certified the The $400 million green bond will help fund bonds and has developed a global low-carbon the Woolworths 2020 sustainability strategy, buildings criteria for supermarkets as a result through the installation of LED lighting, energy of Woolworths’ commitment to green bonds. efficient refrigeration, solar panels and other The Climate Bonds Initiative is an clean energy technologies. international, investor-focused not-for-profit organisation working to mobilise the $100 CEFC Debt Markets Lead Richard Lovell said: trillion bond market, for climate change “This green bond has been instrumental in solutions. setting new standards and expectations across the entire retail industry. Woolworths’ Woolworths Group Chief Financial Officer work on a green bond framework has David Marr said: “We’re pleased with our increased its business-wide focus on inaugural green bond transaction. The issue of sustainability. It sends a strong message to the bonds is a further reflection of our participants of Woolworths’ extensive supply ongoing work to improve our environmental chain and makes a clear statement about its impact and operate a more sustainable sustainability and emissions reduction business. objectives to the estimated 30 million customers who shop the Woolworths brand “The transaction has given us the opportunity each week. to build relationships with a number of new investors who focus on ESG investment such “This retail-focused green bond also provides as the CEFC, supporting our objective of a new asset class for institutional investors diversifying our investor base. seeking opportunities that meet environmental, social and governance “We hope that the success of this transaction requirements. It creates a simple and highly will drive the development of the Australian transparent way for the private sector to green bond market, delivering higher invest in clean energy technologies. awareness of its benefits for corporate Australia and how funds are allocated." Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Woolworths Group includes well known The key point of shingling technology is to Australian and New Zealand brands revolutionize the module-level technology of Woolworths, Countdown, Dan Murphy’s, BWS high-efficiency modules, which has resulted in and Big W. It has over 3,000 stores, more than an influx of investment by PV companies into 200,000 employees. Since 2015 the group has the research and development of large-scale reduced its emissions by 13 per cent. manufacturing of shingled cell modules. Increased shingled module production View the Woolworths Group Green Bond capacity has led to higher application rates Framework. and widespread industry acceptance of the modules in several major high-end markets, Source: CEFC including Europe and Japan. Shingled modules is typically used in high- GCL System awarded patent efficiency application scenarios. Projects currently using shingled cell modules include for shingled solar modules in the Top Runner Program and the Technology Australia Top Runner Program, two programs under the aegis of China's National Energy 29 April Administration (NEA) supplied by GCL. The GCL System Integration Technology Co. Ltd aesthetic design of the shingled modules also (GCL System), a world's leading one-stop makes them ideal for use in distributed intelligent and integrated energy system residential rooftop. provider, announced it had been awarded a patent for its shingled cell modules from IP With continuous technological breakthroughs, Australia (Patent No. 2016393430), further GCL SI expects to improve its competitive enhancing its patent portfolio. The granted advantage and continue its expansion into patents in both Australia and China, high-end markets. meanwhile a patent-applying status in the US and Japan, is expected to help GCL System Source: GCL-SI further establish a presence in the world's high-end markets. Industry watchers will be able to catch the GCL SI shingled cell modules and cast mono modules at Intersolar in May. NEW PROJECT Kadina Solar Farm Shingled cell technology refers to a Location: Kadina, South Australia mainstream manufacturing process of high- Capacity: 5.95 MW density modules used within the photovoltaic Developer: Redmud Green Energy industry. Use of shingled cell designs has Description: Copper Coast Council has drawn considerable attention from approved the project comprising of more than stakeholders for its efficiency, higher 15,000 solar panels across a 13 acre site. The efficiency and higher power output and solar farm will connect to SA Power Networks comparably lower balance-of-system (BOS) Kadina East substation. costs. Industry insiders estimate that if the Contact: Mark Yates adoption of shingled cell technology and the Redmud Green Energy incorporation of SE-PERC high-efficiency cells Tel: (08) 8119 0777 continues to further increase this year, the Email: [email protected] shingled module power of 60-type can be expected to increase to 340-350W. When compared to 270W modules popularized in 2017, this represents an increase in power output of 80W in just two years. Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) ERM Power launches choose their level of participation in increments of 5% and have the added Corporate PPA offering flexibility of a three-year agreement. 29 April New product helps businesses efficiently lock ERM Power has the ability to aggregate in renewable generation ERM Power is multiple business customers to gain access to launching a new Corporate Renewable Power large PPAs, opening up opportunities that Purchase Agreement (PPA) product to haven’t necessarily been available to smaller facilitate easier access to renewable energy business customers. sources for commercial and industrial customers. ERM Power will handle all aspects of the PPA on behalf of customers including sourcing the “This allows commercial and industrial project, negotiating the terms and conditions businesses to buy a partial interest in the and managing financial settlements, providing output of a large renewable power station, to customers a peace-of-mind commercial support their business and environmental arrangement. energy objectives,” said Executive General Manager Trading David Guiver. Mr Guiver said the new product was a natural evolution for ERM Power, building on the “Working through ERM Power, businesses can company’s commitment to supporting the enjoy the benefits of a PPA without the development of renewables infrastructure in intricacies of negotiating and managing a Australia. complex contractual arrangement directly with a renewable energy provider.” ERM Power has entered into offtake agreements with developers of wind and solar Mr Guiver said many large corporates were farms and has also launched new-generation committed to moving to 100% renewable financial instruments into the wholesale energy, given sustainability targets and market to support developers of renewables continued volatility in the wholesale markets. infrastructure. “PPAs are an increasingly popular option, but To support the new product, ERM Power is businesses must proceed cautiously if calling for expressions of interests from negotiating these directly, as there may be renewable project developers and asset hidden pitfalls,” Mr Guiver said. owners with projects located within either Victoria or New South Wales, connected to “Our new product helps businesses secure the NEM, with an installed capacity of 10MW exposure to renewable energy generation as or more. Uncontracted and partially part of their energy mix in a way that’s simple, contracted assets interested in offtake transparent and efficient.” agreements for a 3-5 year term are being encouraged to respond. In Australia, PPA contracts will typically be for the purchase of large scale generation Parties interested in participating should certificates (LGCs) and the energy revenue email [email protected] to produced by a renewable energy generator obtain further information, with formal for a typical term of 15 years. expressions of interest due on or before 10 May 2019. With ERM Power’s offering, for an agreed fixed price, businesses will receive a Source: ERM Power percentage of the energy revenue and the LGCs generated by the renewable operator, with the LGCs more closely aligned to their mandatory requirements. Customers can Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Labor will make the South investment, to translate potential into real economic benefits. West of Western Australia a Renewable Energy Zone That’s why designating the South West of 29 April Western Australia as a Renewable Energy The massive renewable energy investment Zone is so important. potential in Western Australia will be unlocked under a Shorten Labor Government, It will mean the region will benefit