Australia ROUND-UP: Free-market boom, Vic protests, NSW newcomer

Last year’s renewable roll-out of 5GW more than doubled 2017’s records of 2.2GW and enshrined Australia as the world’s top per-capita installer, according to the country’s Clean Energy Regulator.

Coupled with a solid pipeline, the construction ramp-up of recent years will help Australia add 40,000GWh in renewable production in 2020 compared to 1997, smashing its 33,000GWh goal.

In its annual update to the government, the Regulator said 2018 was strong for small-scale solar – which added 1.5GW, a 37% jump on 2017 figures – but also what it described as mid-scale solar

Roll-out of these 10kW-5MW PV projects grew 34% to hit 433MW last year, powering the clean energy ambitions of Australia’s businesses and factories, small and large.

Last year, the Regulator said, was when commercial factors overtook state incentives as the chief renewable driver. With lower prices and shorter payback periods, solar PV was no exception.

The future, the analysis noted, won’t be challenge-free. Grid constraints and the power loss calculations putting revenues at risk could undermine expansion going forward, it warned.

PV reps take to streets to protest Victoria’s rebate turmoil

25 July: Victoria capital Melbourne became the ground this week of rallies against the state’s rationing of economic incentives for solar installations.

Australia’s Smart Energy Council and others met outside the Parliament on Thursday to demand greater allocations of so-called solar rebates, which the state has capped at a monthly 3,333.

The Council estimated turnout at some 300 protesters, with some bearing banners reading ‘RIP the Vic solar industry 2019’, ‘Our family depends on solar’ and others.

The rebates, part of Victoria’s Solar Homes scheme, offer up to AU$2,225 (US$1,566) to homeowners and rental properties. Oversubscription this year saw the aid frozen, and then capped.

“Solar installers are at the end of their tether. Many haven’t been paid since April and they’re incurring substantial losses, laying off staff,” said the Council’s CEO John Grimes.

NSW green-lights Overland’s 110MW project despite opposition

25 July: New South Wales (NSW) authorities have waved through a new utility-scale solar scheme in the state’s northeast, despite the fear of impacts on neighbouring communities.

The state’s Independent Planning Commission gave Overland Sun Farming the all-clear this week to develop a 110MW project near Gunnedah, a five-hour drive north from NSW capital Sydney.

The Commission noted Orange Grove Solar Farm has triggered unease among Gunnedah residents, with concerns raised over land use, flooding and biodiversity.

The body said it had “weighed the community’s views” but found the scheme – set to cost AU$94 million (US$65 million) – is of public interest given its support to the emission-curbing goals.

The project, the Commission said, is designed to minimise visual impacts for neighbours, on the adjoining road network and on nearby properties in the event of floods.

Kellogg’s tucks into solar PPA to power Australian operations

24 July: A New South Wales (NSW) solar plant operational since last month is to pass some of its supply on to food multinational Kellogg’s, under a newly-signed power purchase agreement (PPA).

Beryl Solar Farm – a 110.9MW project by New Energy Solar – will for the next seven-and-half years provide Kellogg’s with enough power to cover the production of 630 million cereal boxes, local media reported.

The PPA is not the first for Beryl, an installation featuring LONGi modules. In June, the project signed a 15-year deal to power trains in NSW capital Sydney.