SOLTYS BREWSTER’s Post

The Australian Government has approved plans for SunCable’s Australia-Asia Power Link solar farm project in the Northern Territory. The Australia-Asia Power Link solar project was assessed and approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). “This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure,” said Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water. “It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy." The Australia-Asia Power Link project is being set up to be the largest solar farm in Australia and is expected to generate up to 6 GW of renewable energy, including 4 GW to be used in Darwin and for potential export to Singapore. “SunCable is pleased to receive Commonwealth Government approval under the EPBC Act, following four years of extensive assessment and public consultation with stakeholders around Australia,” said SunCable Australia’s Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy. “SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027.” The latest approval follows last month’s environmental approval granted by the Northern Territory Government and NT Environment Protection Authority for the ambitious solar project. SunCable estimates the project will deliver more than A$20 billion ($13.4 billion) in economic value to the Northern Territory and support an average of 6,800 direct and indirect jobs for each year of the construction phase, with a peak workforce of 14,300. The approval comes with strict conditions to protect nature including requirements to completely avoid important species like the Greater Bilby and critical habitat. The 12,000 hectare solar farm project is located on a pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek. The approval also includes an 800km transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable to the end of Australian waters. #cleanenergy

Ilmatar has submitted an environmental permit application for the 450 MW Tönnersjö solar farm development in Halland County, Sweden. “Solar power stands out as the fastest-growing energy production method,” remarked Robert Wedmo, Ilmatar’s Head of Permitting. “Ilmatar has now passed a one-gigawatt milestone in solar energy permit applications for Sweden – a significant addition to electricity production that can be built quickly.” Ilmatar signed a land lease agreement with forest owner Silvestica Green Forest in 2022 for the solar farm and has since undertaken environmental impact assessments and consultations before this latest environmental permit application to the Halland County authorities. Ilmatar aims to build the Tönnersjö solar farm over 450 hectares with a project capacity totalling over 450 MW. “The direct connection of the solar farm to the national grid will significantly enhance energy production where it is most needed – in Sweden’s southern electricity area SE4”, added Wedmo. “In just two years in Sweden, Ilmatar has contributed to significant shifts in the Swedish renewable energy landscape,” commented Christian Gustafsson, Country Director for Ilmatar in Sweden. “With over 6 GW in our project pipeline, we are pioneering a novel approach to power generation, prioritising areas with minimal ecological impact. Next to none of our ongoing projects are planned on agricultural land. The focus is mainly on areas with low nature values, such as impediments and production forests. “We are ready for substantial development, merely awaiting permits and gird connection.” #cleanenergy

Leeward Renewable Energy has completed construction and commenced operations at its 200 MW Horizon Solar Project near Pearsall in Frio County, Texas. The solar project will provide Verizon Communications with renewable energy under a renewable energy purchase agreement (REPA). The project is expected to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to powering 1.2 million Texan households throughout its operational lifespan. It will also provide approximately $30 million in tax payments to directly support the local county and schools. Leeward Renewable Energy has also introduced sheep grazing for vegetation control, a comprehensive biodiversity management plan, and the planting of pollinator-friendly native plant species at Horizon Solar. These measures will help increase land productivity, provide farmers with supplementary income, and contribute to advancing the transition to clean energy. Under the REPA, Verizon will also purchase the energy generated from three other Leeward wind and solar projects currently under development. These include: Blackford Wind - Located in Blackford County, Indiana, it will have a generation capacity of 200 MW. White Wing Ranch Solar - Located in Yuma County, Arizona, it will have a generation capacity of 160 MW. An 80 MW wind project with details to come. In total, the four projects will have the capacity to generate up to 640 MW of clean energy, helping Verizon reach its goal of becoming net zero in its operational emissions by 2035. To save energy & cost for your business, contact me at https://buff.ly/2EjAMbu. #Reliability #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Renewables #EnergyAudit #Procurement #Resilience https://buff.ly/3vG3twM

The UK’s Planning Inspectorate has accepted plans for the 840 MW Botley West Solar Farm in Oxfordshire, advancing one of the UK’s largest solar projects to the pre-examination phase. https://lnkd.in/e7pefQyz #solarenergy #solarstorage #UKsolar

Should X-ELIO secure the necessary approvals for the solar farm and battery project, the developer expects construction to last around 36 months. The project is expected to have an operational life of 30 years. #construction #supplychain #procurement ......................................... A 720MW solar farm and four-hour/2,880MWh battery project being proposed for the North Burnett Region near Gladstone in Queensland has been referred for assessment under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. According to details published Tuesday on the EPBC public database, the proposed North Burnett Renewable Energy Hub is being developed by the local subsidiary of Spanish renewable energy project company X-ELIO. The solar project would measure 720MWp while a companion 720 MW battery energy storage system would provide four hours of storage, or 2,880MWh. Located approximately 140 kilometres south-west of Gladstone, in the northern catchment area of the Burnett River, the proposed project has already submitted the necessary ecological assessment report, which was completed by local environmental consultants NGH. Courtesy of RenewEconomy. Connect for full story.

Environmental hurdles reduced for lower sensitivity renewable projects ... #construction #infrastructure #electrification #energy #renewableprojects #solar #solarPV #greenhousegasemissions

Chinese solar manufacturer JinkoSolar Co. has submitted plans for a 600MW solar-plus-storage project in Queensland, Australia, to the federal government. The Beebo Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is located in the south of the state, around south-west of Inglewood. The solar PV power plant will have a generation capacity of 600MW and will be accompanied by a co-located 400MW/800MWh 2-hour duration BESS.

Over the last few months there has been a lot of public focus on environmental approvals for renewable energy projects. We have heard a lot of conflicting numbers and narratives around how renewable energy approvals processes are either slowing the transition, or not working well enough and moving too fast. To have a well-informed debate about the roll of environmental approvals processes in the energy transition we need good evidence, not just anecdotes, on what has actually been happening across different state and federal jurisdictions. That is why I am excited to be partnering through WWF-Australia with Dr. Thomas Longden and his team at the Urban Transformations Centre at the University of Western Sydney on this project to look more closely at the environmental approvals and assessment processes for renewable energy. I look forward to seeing the data come through and talking through its implications so that we can have strong environmental laws that work efficiently and consistently and provide the adequate guardrails to ensure we see a fast, best and just energy transition.

As a proud advocate for renewable energy and a sustainable future, I am writing to express my full support for the Alwen Forest Wind Farm and Grid Connection project. This initiative aligns perfectly with the urgent need to decarbonize our society and transition to greener, cleaner energy solutions. I commend Sustainable Wales and Community Energy Wales for championing this project, especially their emphasis on ensuring that local communities directly benefit from these developments. The inclusion of community ownership of up to 15% of the project is a significant step forward, empowering residents to actively participate in and gain from renewable energy initiatives. By allowing local people to invest and reinvest surplus funds into community benefits, this project not only supports environmental goals but also bolsters the local economy and strengthens community resilience. Projects like the Alwen Forest Wind Farm demonstrate how renewable energy can drive sustainable development while addressing critical social and economic needs. It is essential that initiatives of this scale prioritize the involvement and prosperity of the communities they impact, and I applaud the collaborative vision of this project to achieve exactly that. I urge decision-makers to approve this application and encourage others to support this vital step toward a sustainable and inclusive energy future.

🌏 In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, we simply can’t afford lengthy delays in establishing renewable energy projects. Understanding how and why these delays occur is critical to ensure that renewable energy projects in Australia deliver what’s best for people and nature. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) at the University of Western Sydney to help streamline environmental approvals.    ⚡Fast - to address climate change before it’s too late.   🏆Best – to reverse biodiversity loss caused by climate change.  ⚖️Just – to achieve an inclusive and resilient transition for all communities, especially First Nations. We’ll dive deep into data, identify bottlenecks, and work towards improving processes, for strong, clear, and consistent environmental regulations. Achieving an energy transition that’s good for people and nature isn’t easy, but we have the solutions. 💡🌱 Stand by for the project results in August! Meanwhile, learn more about the transition to a renewables future:  https://lnkd.in/g9_yNEVs #WWFAustralia #Renewables #Climate