It’s no small move for EDPR Australia, which is making a big bet on speeding up its renewable energy build-out. This announcement follows the national government’s awarding of generation revenue schemes for CIS under the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) Tender 4. This program will stampede marquee marine hybrid development in QLD and NSW. It will go a long way to becoming a truly transformative game changer for the country’s energy landscape.
The company’s pipeline is something to boast about. Around 4 gigawatts (GW) of energy, including more than 30 town-scale and large-scale renewable projects. Combined, these developments will bring more than 1.7 GW of solar power and battery storage into Australia’s energy mix. On top of that, they’ll create over 1,600 local jobs. With a detailed investment plan of over A$2 billion ($1.3 billion), EDPR Australia is demonstrating its commitment to refining and expanding their sustainable energy infrastructure.
Key Projects in Development
Flagship projects in the first round include the $115m Punchs Creek renewable energy project in Queensland’s Toowoomba region. The Merino hybrid project sits in New South Wales. The Punchs Creek project features an eye-catching 480 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar energy capacity. It will include a game-changing 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS). It is forecast to reach financial closure by 2026, with commissioning expected in early 2029.
The Merino hybrid project will install 530 MWp of solar, paired with a 450 MW/1,800 MWh BESS. The development of this project is still likely to come to ‘ready-to-build’ status by 2nd half of 2026. Each of these projects will cover about 1,600 hectares with an estimated 1.5 million solar panels. Combined, they’re slated to produce more than 2.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) of clean energy annually. This combined output will be enough to power around 380,000 Australian homes at peak demand times.
Community Engagement and Investment
EDPR Australia future-proofs its endeavors by engaging and incorporating input from local communities and First Nations people as an integral part of its renewable projects. The company has committed up to A$17 million ($10.97 million) for shared benefit programs that will benefit these communities. Simon Franklin, a spokesperson for the firm told.
“Our commitment to the Millmerran, Tirrannaville and Goulburn communities are at the heart of these projects. We are grateful to federal energy minister, the Hon[ourable] Chris Bowen for the vital support. Securing generation revenue schemes under the CIS strengthens and affirms our ambition to accelerate Australia’s energy transition through high-quality, sustainable growth.”
Miguel Fonseca, another leader of the organization, underscored the importance of these distinctions, saying the following.
“This CIS award is a testament to EDP’s leadership and proven track record in delivering large-scale, high-quality renewable projects.”
Commitment to Sustainability
EDPR Australia champions Australia’s ambition to become a world leader in renewable energy. Their methodical advancement of these projects demonstrates this fierce conviction. Beyond expanding its own portfolio, the company has a clear intention to play an important part in the transformation of the Australian energy infrastructure for the better.
EDPR Australia believes in developing sustainably and fostering genuine, long-term engagement with local communities. They want to lead the field in the renewables industry and address the unprecedented rush for cleaner energy alternatives.