New JV to deliver renewable projects to WA

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Western Australian state-owned retailer Synergy has been given the green light to enter into a joint venture with infrastructure investment company DIF and industry super fund Cbus to develop large-scale renewables projects.

Under the joint venture, Synergy, DIF and Cbus have established Bright Energy Investments.

The group will deliver stage two of the Greenough River Solar Farm (GRSF2) south of Geraldton, increasing its capacity from 10MW to 30MW; as well as the refurbishment of Albany Grasmere Wind Farm.

Bright Energy Investments is also undertaking preparatory work on the development of a further proposed renewable energy project in the Warradarge Wind Farm (WWF).

“The Mid-West is emerging as the epicentre for renewable energy projects in this state, comprising a land area amounting to one-fifth of the size of WA,” Energy Minister Ben Wyatt said.

The region also contains a diverse natural environment, which can be utilised to generate economic opportunities.

“The McGowan Labor Government is delivering on its plan to ensure the state meets its 2020 renewable energy commitments.”

RCR Tomlinson has been awarded the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) for the expansion of GRSF2, with an immediate project start and targeted completion in the second quarter of 2019.

The joint venture with DIF and Cbus is an important step to ensure Synergy meets its Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) obligations under Commonwealth legislation.

“Synergy has a long history of developing and operating renewable and other energy projects, including the development of Australia’s first commercial wind farm in Ten Mile Lagoon at Esperance, Australia’s then largest solar project – the Greenough River Solar Farm and the Albany Grasmere Wind Farm,” Mr Wyatt said.

Under Commonwealth legislation, the LRET scheme requires 33,000GWh of renewable energy to be produced nationally by 2020 and those levels maintained until 2030.

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