Solar power sector handed huge boost by ARENA funding

ARENA boss, Ivor
Frischknecht.

Australia is set to triple its large-scale solar energy capacity after funding from a threatened federal agency helped drive down costs almost to those of wind farms.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will announce the 12 projects that will share part of its latest funding round of about $100 million on Thursday.

The agency's chief executive, Ivor Frischknecht, said that when announced last September the funds had been expected to enable 200 megawatts of new solar capacity, compared with the 240 megawatts already in place.

Instead, the dozen ventures will deliver an extra 480 megawatts if all proceed, and drive $1 billion of investment in regional Australia.

Read Peter Hannam’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Solar power sector handed huge boost by ARENA funding.”

'Batteries are shaping up as a big part of this future' - Ivor Frischknecht

ARENA CEO Ivor
Frischknecht.
 

Firstly can I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, who are the traditional custodians of this land. I would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present of the Ngunnawal nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people present.

I’d like to acknowledge the ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister, Simon Corbell, who you will all hear from in a minute.

Congratulations, Simon, for the leading work your government has done to encourage the uptake of home batteries in our community.

And thank you to everyone else who has made time in their busy Wednesdays to be here to celebrate the opening of this fantastic facility.

Thanks also to our friends at the Canberra Institute of Technology for hosting this event … and of course the facility.

At ARENA, we’re committed to accelerating Australia’s shift toward a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy future. And we know that batteries are shaping up as a big part of this future.

Read what ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said at the IT Power Battery Testing Centre launch, Sustainable Skills Training Hub, Canberra Institute of Technology - “Ivor Frischknecht at IT Power Battery Testing Centre launch.”

Funding boost signals confidence in smart energy storage systems

The Sunverge smart storage systems.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the new round of financing included a USD $20 million commitment from AGL Energy Limited (AGL) and was a clear signal of confidence in Sunverge’s smart storage systems.

“This USD $20 million commitment from AGL will see one of Australia’s largest energy companies join other investors – ARENA, SBCVC, Siemens Venture Capital and Total Energy Ventures – to bring new residential storage technology to the Australian market,” Mr Frischknecht said.

Read the ARENA story - “Residential battery storage in Australia gets big boost.”

ARENA banks on renewable energy paying dividends

T

ARENA CEO,
Ivor Frischknecht.

he Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) today announced $1.4 million support for the University of Adelaide to develop an online Australian energy storage knowledge bank and build a mobile energy storage test facility.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the collaborative project led by the University of Adelaide was an important next step for energy storage development and would build on other efforts already underway.

“Reliable, cost effective storage has a vital role to play in smoothing out energy supply and increasing the amount of renewable energy used in Australia,” Mr Frischknecht said.

Read the ARENA release - “Banking on renewable energy storage”.