More than $2 billion worth of renewable energy projects attracted financial commitment in the last three months, adding up to an unprecedented $7.4 billion in investment and more than 3,300MW of new renewable energy capacity which will be under construction or completed in 2017, the Clean Energy Council said.
Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton said a string of large-scale solar project announcements since February meant more than 4,100 direct jobs would be created in a record-breaking year for new investment in the sector.
“Bringing on new forms of energy generation is necessary to ensure continued energy security as ageing coal-fired power continues to close,” Thornton said.
“Thankfully, 35 large-scale renewable energy projects are now under construction in Australia. Large-scale renewable energy, combined with the continued strong uptake of rooftop solar and emergence of energy storage, provides a clear pathway for Australia’s future energy needs,” Thornton said.
The 35 projects that are under construction, will start construction or have been completed in 2017 account for 4,105 direct jobs, more than $7.4 billion of investment and 3,549MW of new renewable energy capacity – the biggest program of works in the history of the industry, he said.
“Regional NSW and Queensland in particular will enjoy some of the biggest job and investment benefits, while the Victorian Government’s state target is expected to drive more project activity once finalised and legislated.”
Between 5,000 and 6,000MW of new generating capacity is required to meet the 2020 large-scale Renewable Energy Target of 33,000 gigawatt-hours.
The 35 projects are…
Large-scale renewable energy projects: under construction
Technology | State | Developer | Project | MW | Invest-ment ($m) | Jobs |
Wind | SA | Neoen and Megawatt Capital | Hornsdale Stage 2 | 100 | 800 | 150 |
Wind | SA | Neoen and Megawatt Capital | Hornsdale Stage 3 | 109 | ||
Wind | NSW | Goldwind | White Rock – Stage 1 | 175 | 400 | 300 |
Wind | QLD | RATCH | Mt Emerald | 180 | 380 | 150 |
Wind | VIC | Windlab | Kiata | 30 | 75 | 70 |
Solar | WA | APA | Emu Downs | 20 | 50 | 100 |
Wind and Solar | SA | EDL | Coober Pedy | 4 | 37 | |
Solar | QLD | Sunshine Coast Council | Sunshine Coast Solar Farm | 15 | 50 | 60 |
Solar | NSW | New Gullen Range Wind Farm | Gullen Range Solar Farm | 10 | 26 | 70 |
Solar | QLD | Conergy – Lakeland Solar & Storage P/L | Lakeland Solar & Storage Project | 10.8 | 42.5 | 60 |
Solar | QLD | FRV | Clare Solar Farm | 100 | 190 | 200 |
Solar | QLD | Genex | Kidston Solar | 50 | 126 | 100 |
Bagasse | QLD | MSF Sugar | Tableland Sugar Mill | 24 | 75 | 80 |
Wind | VIC | Pacific Hydro | Yaloak South | 29 | 130 | |
Wind | VIC | Acciona | Mt Gellibrand – Stage 1 | 66 | 140 | 100 |
Wind | NSW | Partners Group and CWP Renewables | Sapphire | 270 | 588 | 200 |
Solar | QLD | Canadian Solar & Scouller Energy | Normanton Solar Farm | 5 | 14 | 20 |
Solar | QLD | Canadian Solar | Longreach Solar Farm | 17.4 | 31 | 30 |
Solar | QLD | Canadian Solar | Oakey 1 Solar Farm | 30 | 56 | 50 |
Large-scale renewable energy projects: now operating
Technology | State | Developer | Project | MW | Invest-ment ($m) | Jobs |
Wind | VIC | RES, GE and Downer | Ararat Wind Farm | 240 | 450 | 165 |
Large-scale renewable energy projects: financial commitment, will start in 2017
Technology | State | Developer | Project | MW | Invest-ment ($m) | Jobs |
Wind | NSW | Global Power Generation Australia | Crookwell 2 | 91.0 | 140 | 100 |
Solar | QLD | Sun Metals | Sun Metals Solar Farm | 116.0 | 350 | 200 |
Solar | QLD | ESCO Pacific/Palisade | Ross River | 148.0 | 200 | 80 |
Wind and solar | QLD | Windlab | Kennedy Energy Park | 40.0 | 155 | 250 |
Wind | NSW | PARF | Silverton | 200.0 | 225 | 150 |
Solar | QLD | FRV | Lilyvale | 100.0 | 120 | 50 |
Solar | SA | Snowy Hydro | Tailem Bend | 100.0 | 460 | 150 |
Solar | NSW | Neoen | Griffith, Parkes, Dubbo | 110.0 | 400 | 200 |
Solar | VIC | Overland Sun Farming | Yatpool, Iraak, Wemen | 320.0 | 200 | 200 |
Solar | NSW | First Solar | Manildra Solar Farm | 48.5 | 230 | 250 |
Solar | SA | Lyon Group | Riverland Solar Farm | 330.0 | 500 | 200 |
Wind | NSW | Infigen Energy | Bodangora Wind Farm | 113.2 | ||
Solar | QLD | Edify Energy | Whitsunday Solar Farm | 57.5 | 700 | 270 |
Solar | SA | Reach Solar | Bungala Solar Project | 220.0 | 263 | 120 |
Solar | QLD | Canadian Solar | Oakey 2 SF | 70.0 | 250 | 180 |
TOTAL – Solar* | 1922.2 | 3512.5 | 2540 | |||
TOTAL – Wind* | 1647.2 | 4016 | 1535 | |||
TOTALS | 3549.4 MW
|
$7446.5m | 4105 |
*Both totals include projects with combined wind + solar technologies. These double-counted projects include 20MW capacity, $82 million and 30 jobs, which have been removed from the final total.
Distribution of large-scale renewable energy projects – by state
State | Projects | Capacity (MW) | Investment ($m) | Jobs |
Queensland | 15 | 963 | 2224 | 1680 |
New South Wales | 8 | 1017 | 2140 | 1170 |
Victoria | 5 | 685 | 1295 | 535 |
South Australia | 6 | 863 | 1737 | 620 |
Western Australia | 1 | 20 | 50 | 100 |