EDP Renewables takes over large Aussie project book
Published Date : 2024-May-29, Wednesday
EDP Renewables has hit the ground running after acquiring
ITP Development with its extensive Australian project book (see the project
table below as confirmed by EDPR Australia).
Spain-based EDPR now has project development rights to 23
solar farm and BESS projects in New South Wales and Queensland, with a total
potential capacity of more than 1550 MW.
All but four have development approvals, with two unknown,
and most are based on the same model coming in at around 5 MW AC capacity and
so avoiding AEMO’s more stringent connection regulations.
Two exceptions are the 15 MW Yoogali Solar farm in NSW, and
the 11.5 MW Molonglo BESS in the ACT.
EDPR will also now control larger-scale proposals the 450 MW
Merino Solar Farm in Tirrannaville, near Goulburn NSW, which will have an up to
300 MW BESS attached to it, and another in Queensland which includes 480 MW of
solar and 200 MW battery capacity. EDPR Australia was unable to elaborate on
the location or other details of this Queensland project at the moment.
Over several years ITP Development was highly successful at
selecting sites for its sub-5 MW solar farm project model and gaining the
relevant council approvals.
One exception was the proposed Burrundulla Solar Farm near
Mudgee in NSW, which was rejected by the Western Regional Planning Panel. An
appeal against this decision by ITP was dismissed by the NSW Land and
Environment Court late last year, and the project will no longer go ahead.
EDPR Australia is part of the multi-national EDP Renewables
group, which describes itself as the fourth largest renewable energy producer
in the world. It views Australia “as a market with strong fundamentals and
ample depth in renewables”.
APAC is considered to be one of EDPR’s four regional hubs,
“which together account for more than 26 GW of installed capacity worldwide, of
which more than 22 GW is in solar, wind, and hydro projects”. The company is
aiming to reach 50 GW of renewable energy by 2030 to become a 100% renewable
player.
The ITP Development team, including country
director Simon Franklin and portfolio manager Mishka Talent, become part of EDP
Renewables APAC.