Asia Pacific Solar PV News Snippets: New Zealand Fast-Tracks 220 MW Solar Farm & More

Edify Secures Funding for Queensland Solar-Battery Projects 

La Caisse-backed Edify Energy of Australia has reached financial close on its Ganymirra and Majors Creek solar and battery hybrid projects in Queensland. Located near Townsville in Woodstock, the projects will combine 360 MW of solar generation with 300 MW/1,200 MWh of battery storage capacity. The projects are backed by the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) and are Edify’s third and fourth projects to reach financial close under the scheme. They are expected to become operational in 2028 and generate enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes. Edify said it achieved financial close on the projects across a syndicate of 14 domestic and international lenders. DT Infrastructure is the EPC contractor and CATL the battery supplier for the project, along with Powerlink, the network and connection works head contractor. 

Tomago Secures Renewable Power Deal Through 2038 

Australia’s largest aluminum smelter, Tomago Aluminium, will source 100% clean energy supply for its operations, underpinning nearly 3 GW of new renewable energy and firming capacity. With the governments of Australia and New South Wales (NSW) contributing a combined AUD 2.5 billion to ensure sustained operations, Tomago will enter into a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) covering electricity supply through 2038. The smelter will be supplied with 100% renewable electricity from 2033, when the current power contract with AGL expires on December 31, 2028. Tomago Aluminium will invest AUD 1.1 billion in the smelter through 2038, including AUD 100 million for decarbonization initiatives.

Rio Tinto, Tomago Aluminium’s largest shareholder, said the shift to fully renewable electricity is expected to cut the smelter’s Scope 1 and 2 operating emissions by 7.1 million tons a year. The agreement is also intended to provide long-term power certainty for the smelter while supporting the integration of more renewable energy into NSW’s electricity system. Tomago Aluminum is the biggest electricity user in NSW; hence, its shift to renewable energy will accelerate decarbonization of more than 10% of the state’s electricity grid.