Asahi, BaptistCare sign PPAs with ‘one of the largest’ solar projects in New South Wales, Australia

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Asahi Beverages, Uralla Shire Council, Armidale Regional Council, ACEN Australia, Flow Power and BaptistCare at the announcement event in Uralla. Image: Flow Power.

Japanese-owned drinks company Asahi Beverages and not-for-profit care company BaptistCare have signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) to secure energy from “one of the largest solar farms” in New South Wales, Australia.

The 720MW New England Solar project, being developed in two stages by renewable energy developer ACEN Australia, started construction in March 2021. A second stage, anticipated to begin in 2024, will see the construction of a 200MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). It is located near Uralla, in New South Wales’ New England region, around 465km north of Sydney.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Under the agreement with Flow Power, the project’s owner, Asahi Beverages will purchase 30,000MWh annually, whereas BaptistCare has secured a 10-year solar-and-wind PPA to source an estimated 15,000MWh annually.

New England Solar has received significant support from the local community. The company has already provided AU$200,000 (US$131,972) in community grants and plans to invest AU$7 million through ACEN’s Social Investment Program. Additionally, 1.5% of the project’s value has been allocated for First Nations’ participation and employment.

Commenting on this, Byron Serjeantson, chief operating officer at Flow Power lauded the deals, and said the New England Solar project “raised the bar for strong community engagement and support, including landowners and First Nations communities”.

New England Solar to support decarbonisation targets

For Asahi Beverages, the renewable energy sourced from New England will be used to aid the company in achieving its 100% of purchased electricity sourced from renewable energy by 2025 target.

Kirsten Sturzaker, Asahi Beverages’ Group head of sustainability, said the deal will “provide certainty for securing long-term energy supply for our customers and consumers while benefitting the planet” whilst also highlighting the important role New England Solar will play in decarbonising its operations.

“Victoria Bitter is already brewed with 100% offset solar energy and we look forward to all our brands soon being made in similar ways (with our purchased electricity sourced from or offset by renewables). We have a broad sustainability agenda, from energy to packaging and more, and we raise a glass to the important role New England Solar plays in this,” Sturzaker said.

BaptistCare will use renewable energy to reduce the carbon footprint of its New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory operations by 70% and support the company’s goal of becoming net zero by 2050.

Thomas Griffiths, head of strategy and investments for BaptistCare NSW, ACT and WA, said: “In addition to sustainability benefits, the project also delivers cost certainty and strong business outcomes, and we encourage others in the sector to actively consider how they can also play a role in accelerating this renewables transition.”

Read Next

October 15, 2025
Wood Mackenzie has warned of a supply bottleneck as the renewable energy shift drives a spike in global copper demand over the next decade.
October 15, 2025
A report by IRENA and others has highlighted the need for yearly renewable energy deployments to almost double between now and 2030.
October 15, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Geronimo has begun construction on it’s150MW solar project in Illinois and commissioned the 125MW PV project in Michigan.
October 15, 2025
Indian module manufacturer Saatvik Green Energy, through its subsidiary Saatvik Solar Industries, has secured solar PV module orders worth INR6.89 billion (US$78 million).
October 15, 2025
The Australian government has approved the 141MW Forbes Solar Farm Project in New South Wales in just 19 days, marking one of the fastest environmental approvals on record in the country.
October 15, 2025
Australia has opened registrations for Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) Tender 7, which targets 5GW of renewable energy generation capacity across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK