Ergon Energy put the call out for renewable energy projects and Queensland delivered, with seven projected shortlisted for consideration.
Ergon Energy sought 150 megawatts in renewable energy generation from projects across regional Queensland and More than 2000 megawatts of capacity from 51 projects has been put forward by 22 proponents.
The quality and size of the shortlisted projects will allow Ergon Energy to secure a long-term supply of large-scale generation certificates by establishing power purchasing agreements with the best of these.
Ergon has said they are delighted with the outstanding response and are excited to look for new opportunities to meet commitments under the Federal Government’s Renewable Energy Target.
Ergon Energy is already the largest purchaser of renewable energy generated in Queensland, including partnerships with sugar mills through power purchase agreements.
The shortlisted projects include wind and solar farms as well as innovative projects such as a biomass project that generates power by using chicken litter as a fuel.
The submissions will now be assessed and Ergon will work with each company to progress to the next stage of entering into commercial PPAs in late 2015 or early 2016.
Ernst and Young were engaged to assist with the second stage of awarding tenders to ensure the technical and commercial requirements could be met.
Ergon Energy is also looking to partner with new renewable energy projects with companies in the renewable energy space who have demonstrated their projects will contribute significantly to Ergon Energy Retail meeting its Renewable Energy requirements.
The seven projects that have been shortlisted are:
- Mount Emerald Wind Farm (50 per cent Ratch, 50 per cent Port Bajool)
- Ratch-Australia Corporation – Collinsville Solar Farm
- Forsayth Wind Farm (Infigen) – Forsayth Wind Farm
- Cleveland Power (Darwalla Group) – Mount Cotton Biomass Project (Chicken Litter)
- FRV Services Australia – Clare Solar Farm
- FRV Services Australia – Lilyvale Solar Farm
- Lyon Infrastructure Investments – Cooktown Solar
