Australia to triple solar capacity with $92m funding

Australia aims to triple the amount of energy generated from solar by investing $92 million (£69m) in projects. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has chosen a total of 12 […]

Australia aims to triple the amount of energy generated from solar by investing $92 million (£69m) in projects.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has chosen a total of 12 projects with a combined capacity of 480MW.

The six plants in Queensland, five in New South Wales and one in Western Australia are expected to triple the country’s solar capacity from 240MW to 720MW.

The agency expects the projects to deliver 10% of new capacity required to meet Australia’s 2020 renewable energy target, power 150,000 homes and create more than 2,300 jobs.

The solar projects are also expected to unlock almost $1 billion (£0.75bn) of commercial investment and boost the country’s regional economies.

Ivor Frischknecht, CEO at ARENA said: “The projects delivered through the ARENA funding round will build on current expertise and generate new knowledge for the burgeoning large-scale solar sector including co-location of solar and wind.

“Australia’s big solar revolution is tantalisingly close and as more home-grown businesses step up to provide construction, engineering and financial services, this newest tranche of ARENA-supported projects is well positioned to take the sector even closer to commerciality.”

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