Engie looks to solar energy after Hazelwood power plant shuts

French energy company Engie is looking to develop new solar plants in Australia as it prepares to shut down Victoria's Hazelwood coal-fired power plant.

The company has advertised for Australian developers to come to them with solar energy proposals by February 10.

Engie plans to invest in the projects and start building new solar plants, shifting their focus away from coal-based generation.

"Engie in Australia is seeking proposals for large scale solar developments to take 100 per cent ownership," a spokesman told AAP on Tuesday.

"If suitable sites are identified, Engie aims to develop these projects into operational solar plants."

Late last year Engie announced it would shut down the Latrobe Valley's Hazelwood coal mine and power plant in March.

Read the story in today’s Sydney Morning Herald - “Engie looks to solar energy after Hazelwood power plant shuts.”

Hazelwood owner 'driven out of town' by Daniel Andrews: Frydenberg

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has given
Australians assurances about the security of
the country's energy network.

Hazelwood owner Engie was "driven out of town" by the Andrews government, Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has claimed.

In a sign that a sensible national debate on energy security is unlikely any time soon, a war of words has erupted between the state and federal governments in the wake of the historic decision by Engie to close Hazelwood by the end of March.

On Thursday, Mr Frydenberg offered reassurance that the energy network could cope with the closure of the plant, which generates up to one-quarter of the Victoria's power when fully operational. He also said the federal government broadly agreed with a state assessment that power prices will rise by 4 to 8 per cent as a result of the closure.

But on Friday Mr Frydenberg went on the offensive, accusing the Andrews government of forcing the shutdown by tripling the brown coal royalty rate in the last budget and imposing an "unrealistic" 40 per cent renewable energy target.

Read Josh Gordon’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Hazelwood owner 'driven out of town' by Daniel Andrews: Frydenberg.”

Latrobe Valley community demands clarity about future of Hazelwood brown coal mine

Gippsland MP Darren Chester wants answers
from Engie about Hazelwood Power Station.

The Nationals' Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is calling for the owners of the Hazelwood Power Station to give a clear timeline for the plant's closure.

The French majority owner Engie has categorically denied reports it will shut down the facility in the first half of next year.

But Mr Chester said he was deeply concerned by ongoing speculation about the station's future and hundreds of jobs it provides.

He said a premature closure would be devastating.

Read the ABC Rural story - “Latrobe Valley community demands clarity about future of Hazelwood brown coal mine.”