Project Update Week ending 16 November 2018 Energy Networks Australia welcomes NSW Transmission Infrastructure Strategy 12 November Energy Networks Australia has welcomed the and unsuited to the transformation underway NSW Transmission Infrastructure Strategy in electricity generation. released today by the NSW Government. “By providing a funding guarantee for The Strategy sets out to boost NSW's preliminary planning work, the NSW interconnection with Victoria, South Australia Government can fast-track priority projects and Queensland, increase energy capacity and while ensuring projects will only proceed streamline regulation for a modernised grid. where the benefits for consumers clearly outweigh the costs,” he said. Energy Networks Australia CEO Andrew Dillon said the NSW plan was a vital step towards a “Networks want to keep costs as low as more integrated energy system that would possible while ensuring new renewable deliver greater benefit to customers through a generation can be reliably integrated into our more resilient grid and more competitive grid. The NSW plan will help achieve this.” wholesale markets. Source: Energy Networks Australia “Around the world, modern energy systems are responding to more variable renewable generation by ensuring greater connection PROJECT NEWS between generation sources and customers,” Clarke Creek Wind Farm he said. Lacour Energy’s proposed 877.5 MW Clarke Creek Wind Farm in Queensland has been “NSW sits at the centre of the National conditionally approved by the federal Electricity Market (NEM) and is critical to the Department of the Environment & Energy. development of a more connected energy These conditions include minimising impacts future. to EPBC Act listed threatened species and communities, with limits to clearing habitat “Fast-tracking the four key projects outlined suitable for the Koala, suitable habitat for the in the strategy will bolster the grid's capacity Greater Glider and Squatter Pigeon, and the and put downwards pressure on prices – a Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket. priority for network businesses across Australia.” Mr Dillon said the sequential nature of current regulatory arrangements was slow Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Gannawarra and Wemen Solar one of the largest solar farms in Victoria to be generating clean, renewable electricity. Farm now operating, adding 170MW of renewable The two projects combined will provide enough energy to power the equivalent of generation to the National approximately 52,100 Victorian households Grid with clean, sustainable electricity, whilst 12 November preventing the emission of approximately WIRSOL adds 170MW DC of additional large- 390,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. scale solar to its Australian portfolio. The Victorian government consciously - Gannawarra Solar Farm (60MW) in north- committed to re-establishing the state as a west Victoria – has reached project front-runner in renewable energy, with completion, having successfully passed all targets of 25% by 2020, 40% by 2025 and 50% commissioning tests. by 2030 if re-elected – Wemen and - Wemen Solar Farm (110MW) now Gannawarra Solar Farm lead by example and connected and generating power during signify the commitment made to provide a commissioning – positioning the project clean energy future. amongst the largest solar farms in operation in Victoria. Furthermore, Gannawarra Solar Farm’s - The two projects will power the equivalent retrofitted 25MW/50MWh Tesla powerpack of approximately 52,100 Victorian homes over battery, Gannnawarra Energy Storage System the course of the year with clean, sustainable (GESS), has reached its own project milestone, electricity. completing the construction phase ahead of schedule. WIRSOL Energy Pty Ltd (WIRSOL), the Australian arm of the WIRCON Group, This is a significant milestone for WIRSOL, announces project completion at the highlighting their position as a leading Gannawarra Solar Farm. The 60-Megawatt renewable energy developer within the (MW) solar farm is now operating at full Australian market. capacity, having received approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) GESS’s owners, WIRSOL and Edify Energy, for successfully passing all commissioning have overcome some unique regulatory and tests. technical challenges to become the first battery storage system that has been Additionally, WIRSOL’s largest solar project to retrofitted to an existing solar farm. The date, Wemen Solar Farm, has achieved first facility holds great significance and further generation in an impressive 11 months – demonstrates the great opportunity for creating over 600 jobs in various capacities integrating large-scale battery storage with during this time. solar projects. RCR Tomlinson, the EPC Contractor Mark Hogan, Managing Director of WIRSOL responsible for constructing Wemen Solar comments, “We are delighted to reach two Farm, achieved the first-generation milestone crucial milestones at Gannawarra Solar Farm. on schedule and will continue commissioning The overall project and how it has evolved is with the goal of achieving completion by year unique to the industry which in turn sets a end. benchmark for future projects, which enables the ability to optimise the delivery of energy At 110MW DC, Wemen Solar Farm has at peak times supporting demand throughout approximately 319,000 modules installed the daily cycle. across an area of close to 700 acres, becoming Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) We are proud to be a major contributor soared. Victorians have been suffering with towards Victoria’s renewable energy target, out of control electricity prices ever since. with two of the state’s largest projects now operating. This also underwrites our own Hazelwood operator Engie faced an $87.5 personal mission of deploying greater than million tax bill from Daniel Andrews because one gigawatt of solar energy by the year of the changes, forcing the power station to ending 2020 in Australia. Mayntaining the announce its early closure in November 2016 deployment of solar, coupled with storage and shutdown within 5 months in March where appropriate, is a cornerstone in 2017. Hundreds of families lost their primary attaining sustainable and affordable clean income as Hazelwood prematurely closed. energy, which is evidently now within reach on a global scale, specifically within Australia.” In discussing Daniel Andrews’ brown coal royalty rate, the then owner of Hazelwood, Mr Bruce James, Interim CEO and Executive Engie, described the increase as "surprising Director of RCR Tomlinson said, “RCR is proud and disappointing" and said it would "have a to have delivered the Gannawarra and detrimental impact on the region's energy Wemen Solar Farm projects on time and has sector". helped add to WIRSOL’s Victorian energy projects. These projects continue RCR’s track On the Neil Mitchell program on 3 November record of delivering state of the art solar 2016, Daniel Andrews said in relation to the generation facilities.” impact of Hazelwood’s closure on Victorian households: “any increase will cause pressure Source: WIRSOL Energy on household budgets, I acknowledge that. But the numbers are more in the order of 4% or 85 cents a week.” More power supply, lower Daniel Andrews was either wrong or he lied. power prices Either way, he can’t be trusted on energy 12 November costs. With the cost of power now out of control, a Liberal Nationals Government will facilitate The number of Victorians to lodge complaints the construction of a new Victorian power about disconnections form their electricity station of at least 500MW to cut the cost of has risen by over 82% between December soaring electricity prices. 2017 and June 2018. Packaging up major government services such According to research by St Vincent de Paul’s, as rail; hospitals and other major services, a under Daniel Andrews electricity prices have Liberal Nationals Government will seek a risen by around $450 and gas prices have tender for a new 500 MW contract of supply, increased by around $500. allowing the market to best determine the mode of generation. Add to that the nine new taxes that Daniel Andrews has already introduced and it’s no The government tender will also allow the wonder most Victorians feel they’re losing winning bid to expand on this contract to control of their personal finances. beyond 500 MW. That’s why a Liberal Nationals Government It is clear that Daniel Andrews has lost control will put the supply of at least 500MW of new of electricity and gas costs. After tripling the electricity generation out to tender which will brown coal royalty rate to grab an extra $252 secure the construction of a new power million from Latrobe Valley power generators station. - Hazelwood closed down and power prices Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) This new privately owned power station will Comments attributable to Leader of the supply energy requirements of government Liberal Party, Matthew Guy: services such as hospitals and rail networks “Daniel Andrews has lost control of electricity via the 500MW contract. and gas prices and its hurting Victorians. The winning bid will be determined by the Every time Daniel Andrews cuts a deal to lowest cost for electricity subject to meeting appease the Greens, it means more taxes that tender requirements like security of supply. costs Victorian households. The winning bid with the lowest electricity cost could include hydro, wind, solar gas or Every Victorian knows that Daniel Andrews coal or a combination of any, provided that it can’t win government without the support of is new capacity and is available to supply the Greens which means more taxes and electricity 24/7. higher electricity and gas prices. This extra supply of energy into the market Building a new power station in Victoria will coupled with utilising the government’s mean lower prices for the long term which is buying power will drive down retail electricity going to save households and businesses prices. As part of the competitive tender hundreds of dollars every year.