Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 40

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Eni acquires Tetris Energy’s solar assets in Australia
AUSTRALIA
ENI has completed the acquisition of two con- struction-ready solar projects at Batchelor and Manton Dam in Australia’s Northern Territory from NT Solar Investments, a wholly owned sub- sidiary of Australia’s Tetris Energy.
The projects will comprise the installation of 2x12.5 MW of ground-mounted PV panels and will be completed by the third quarter of 2020.
The installation of innovative cloud cover- age-predicting technology will ensure optimum operational performance in all weather condi- tions. This technology will forecast possible var- iations in solar irradiation so as to minimise the impact on the grid.
State-owned offtaker Jacana Energy will pur- chase 100% of the new plants’ output, which will supply clean energy to over 5,000 homes each year.
The new projects will contribute to the Northern Territory government’s goal of pro- viding 50% of energy generation from renewable sources by 2030.
This initiative, together with the previously announced 33.7-MW Katherine solar farm, which is currently under construction, increases Eni’s green investment in Australia and com- plements the company’s existing assets in the region.
Eni is investing heavily worldwide in renew- able energy projects in a bid to move its focus away from its traditional oil and gas production activities.
It aims to integrate renewables into its oil and gas business, for example by using wind farms or solar panels to power oil wells.
The company has pledged to play a full part in the energy transition and to reduce its green- nhouse (GHG) emissions.
Eni has been present in Australia through its subsidiary Eni Australia Ltd since 2000. It is the operator and 100% owner of the Blacktip Gas Project and has a non-operated interest in the Bayu-Undan gas and condensate field and in the associated Darwin LNG plant.™
Masdarbids makes $0.027 winning bid in Uzbekistan’s first solar tender
UZBEKISTAN
UZBEKISTAN announced at the end of last week the winner of its first ever competitively tendered solar power public-private partner- ship (PPP) to develop a utility-scale solar plant located in Navoi Region.
Masdar Clean Energy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was awarded the project with a bid to supply solar power at “one of the lowest tariffs seen in emerging markets” - $0.027 per kWh.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) helped the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Energy to design and tender the PPP. The tender attracted 11 prequal- ified bidders and five competitive bids.
Given the outcome of this tender, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Djam- shid Kuchkarov announced that Uzbekistan will launch another tender for an additional PPP for 400MW of solar power, followed by one more PPP for 500 MW.
“The project is part of an effort by the Gov- ernment of Uzbekistan to develop up to 5GW
of solar power by 2030 to diversify the country’s energy mix,” said Deputy Minister Shukhrat Vafaev.
“By structuring a transparent and competi- tive tender, we are assured of getting the most competitive power prices from private investors, helping to set a benchmark for solar power tariffs in the country.”
The IFC said Masdar’s price was one of the lowest tariffs seen for large scale solar in emerg- ing markets and that two more tenders for 400MW and 500MW would be launched in the near future.
“We are proud to open new markets for solar power in Uzbekistan with the country’s first open tender public-private partnership that will supply renewable energy to the Uzbek people at competitive prices,” said Wiebke Schloemer, IFC director for Europe and Central Asia.
“This PPP success sets a precedent for future private sector participation in the country and sends a positive message to the global investment community.”™
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 40 08 •October•2019