New Energy Quarterly: Power Plus - April 2022 - Hamilton Locke
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Editorial: Power PLUS Contents Editorial iii Authors: Matt Baumgurtel, Adriaan van der Merwe Watt’s happened 3 First published: 13 April 2022 Watt’s new in the Market 3 Watt’s new at Hamilton Locke 4 Market Recognition 4 Is Energy Generation enough to Future Proof While this predicament erodes profits for some generators, your Business? it does lead to lower electricity prices benefitting parts of Watt’s next 4 an economy. It also holds a tremendous opportunity for Spotlight - Adriaan van der Merwe 5 Traditionally economic growth and energy demand went generators willing to innovate. To a large extent we are hand in hand. This means that the wealthier a country, the still operating in an energy market where generators were New Energy Predictions 2022 6 more electricity it generated and the more CO2 it emitted. designed to follow load, but we are transitioning to a market Watt is being funded 7 This culminates in the world’s two energy problems. where load can follow generation. In such a market the Hamilton Locke New Energy Team 8 Firstly, that the bulk of our energy generation produce ability to shift one’s demand profile is key, and possible due carbon dioxide emissions, with Asia Pacific accounting for to technological advances and storage solutions. Power PLUS Agriculture 52% of global emissions in 2030. And secondly that about Agrivoltaics: The Future of Australian Farming? 9 770 million people still lack access to electricity, which Interestingly we are also beginning to see a decoupling Panel your Canal 11 means that we will see an 80% increase in generation of economic growth and energy demand. This does not capacity by 2040. mean that the world requires less energy, but rather that Soil carbon 13 the growth in electricity demand will be flatter as efficient Power PLUS mining Addressing these seemingly opposing energy dilemmas of technologies require less energy to undertake the same Renewing the Mining Industry 15 increasing electricity supply and decreasing CO2 emissions work. creates a tremendous opportunity for business, especially Power PLUS industry as the cost of renewable generation technology have The message to generators is clear – there will be a point in C&I Solar – the Rooftop Race has Begun, and the First 17 decreased significantly in recent years. For example, the time for some where the business of generating electricity to Scale Will Win cost of solar generation has fallen by a staggering 80% alone will not be enough. Generators will have to explore since 2010. This has accelerated the uptake of renewable the synergies that their generation facility has with other Is C&I Solar the next big generator? 21 industries, determine what opportunities exist beyond their energy by generators in large scale generation, and also by Power PLUS hydrogen households installing rooftop generation. core business and find their Power PLUS. Fifty shades of Green 25 The starting point when finding your Power PLUS is the The realisation of business opportunity in renewable energy Offshore wind to H2 27 is evident. The NSW New England Renewable Energy realisation that electricity is the central input to making our Power PLUS digital Zone for instance attracted 4 times more applications than lives modern. It is a necessary input to our food, water, it can accommodate, and the NSW hydrogen hub scheme transport and materials. And as examined in this Quarterly – Digital Power – Green Crypto Miners and Data Centres 29 it can play an even bigger and more profitable role. This role eight times the state’s target. Digital Power – Powering Greener Pastures, Can Crypto Help? 31 sees an abundance energy move an economy from selling Energy Crypto Part I The effect of this high uptake of renewable technologies electrons to selling tomatoes, from selling iron ore to selling Digital Power – How to Tokenise Your New Energy Project 33 have however caused a substantial shift in the NEM’s steel and from selling wool to selling cloth. – Energy Crypto Part II energy demand profile. As explored in our article on the electricity duck curve, there is now a time of day when Digital Power – Data Centres and Crypto Mining 35 electricity is, for all practical purposes, free. – How to be green? Digital Power – Experts Insights with Guy Dickinson 37 from BetaCarbon A Crypto Grid? 39 Expert insights: How to stack your BESS 41 What are the Barriers to Batteries? New Energy Expert Insights 43 with Marija Petkovic of Energy Synapse Power PLUS mobility Driving it Home: How Australia Can Make the Switch 45 to Electric Vehicles Power PLUS Market Developments There’s a New Duck in Town – Part I 47 There’s a New Duck in Town – Part 2 49 The ‘Business’ of Australia’s Green Recovery 51 – Key Drivers and Risks for 2022 – Part 1 The ‘Business’ of Australia’s Green Recovery 53 – Key Drivers and Risks for 2022 – Part 2 Key Contacts 55 ii New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 iii
The role of energy security in international This quarterly includes a three-part series addressing the Power PLUS mining relations drivers of economic recovery, as well as demystifying the Australian carbon market and focusing on the distinction The Australian mining sector is definitely alive to the In recent weeks the world has seen how international between net zero and carbon neutral, greenwashing and necessity to have a greener approach to resource diplomacy is limited by a country’s dependence on energy. Australia’s potential as a carbon sink. extraction and beneficiation. To this end we have seen One can only speculate how the international response various commitments to use renewable generation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine would have been to power mining operations. Not only does his make different if countries were not reliant on Russian oil and This Quarterly sense from an ESG perspective, but it also utilises the gas. In a world where cheap, decentralised solar and wind The purpose of this New Energy Quarterly is to inspire you opportunities of declining generation costs, decentralised generation can be coupled with storage solutions and to think broader than your current business and provide generation technologies, the rise of storage technologies hydrogen transport, the sanctions countries are willing to a platform from which you can benefit from the energy and potential of additional revenue streams. impose may be different in future. transition. To aid in this, we carved up this edition in the In this article we discuss the greening drivers of the following categories: mining industry and available technologies to realise this. After the invasion we have seen various announcements to decrease European reliance on Russian oil and gas by We also touch on the opportunities for the beneficiation increasing hydrogen terminal capacity. When coupled Power PLUS agriculture industry through initiatives such as green steel and green with COVID recovery measures which heavily invested in aluminium. Future proofing agriculture and securing additional revenue renewable generation, this may be the coming to fruition of streams are at the forefront of every farmer’s mind. The an offtake market. solution to these dilemmas may be the generation of Power PLUS industry It is clear that the first mover advantage will benefit various electricity alongside existing operations. The sharp The market has realised that traditional commercial and projects in development in Australia. How this global decline in generation cost has made the electricity industrial electricity customers can now play a role in shift in energy dependence will play out remains to be generation business an attractive opportunity for anyone generation by simply installing PV panels on the roofs of seen. The message is however clear: greater energy with sufficient space to locate generation facilities. The their premises. We ask if C&I is the next big generator, independence and energy security is possible. And as we electricity generated can then be used to cut down on but also what other opportunities exist. Options like explore in this quarterly – with that independence come electricity bills, be sold in the market or used to venture lampposts for EV charging, covering water canals with PV water and food security as well. into new industries such as vertical closed loop farming or panels and retrofitting high-rises and greenhouses with production. transparent PV panels all provide exciting opportunities. Business driving the Green Economic To this end we explore how Agrivoltaics can reduce the Recovery competition between farmland and energy generation, Power PLUS market developments mitigate severe weather events and increase production Australia’s climate commitments have come under seasons. We highlight the opportunities that come from We outline the some of the more recent dramas in the intense scrutiny once again following the recent floods in installing solar panels over irrigation canals and shed market, such as the ever-increasing duck curve and the Queensland and New South Wales. This came on the light on the benefits of using floating solar facilities in misalignment between the ISP and AEMO, and show back of COP26 (the UN Climate Change Conference in conjunction with aquaculture. We also explore how farmers how not planning for an energy transition means having to Glasgow) in October and November 2021, at which the can expand into the adjacent industry of carbon farming accept the market created by market participants. Australian Government, despite setting a target of net zero and how evaporation of irrigation canals can be reduced We also introduce our three-part series on the business emissions by 2050, received criticism from many nations by the installation of solar panels. drivers for Australia’s green economic recovery. for declining to revise its existing interim target of reducing emissions by 26-28% by 2030 to a level necessary to In the coming months we will also be publishing on vertical We hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we did meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming closed loop farming in office buildings and the creation of writing it. to 1.5°C by the end of this century. water with dehumidifying technology and desalination – all which are only possible with an abundance of cheap While important, the reality is that the commitment to energy. https://ourworldindata.org/worlds-energy-problem net zero emissions and the transition to a lower carbon https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/renewable-energy-cost-fallen/ economy is no longer primarily driven by governments. Power PLUS digital This has been a distinct shift which has occurred largely in the last 24 months – a hidden transition as COVID-19 The market value of the global digital asset ecosystem has dominated global attention. At the same time, is approximately AUD$2.8 trillion, with over 221 million however, the pandemic has itself accelerated this shift, users having engaged with cryptocurrencies or used a as governments and businesses collectively focus on blockchain based application. We focus on the deep ‘building back better’ in a new world. connection between power and the digital economy. Throughout the series, we explore the opportunities that We attribute the role of business in the green economic data centres and crypto miners bring to the National recovery to: Electricity Market (NEM), important digital security 1. environmental, social and governance concerns (ESG); considerations for energy asset holders, the ‘tokenisation’ 2. decreased cost of generation; and of energy related projects and relevant ESG considerations 3. energy security. when acquiring a digital assets business. 1 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 2
Watt’s happened Watt’s new at Hamilton Locke The New Energy Team Lawyer’s weekly featured New Energy Team Hamilton Locke Launches Perth published their energy insights of our New Energy attended the Smart predictions for 2022 Quarterly – Hydrogen’s Energy Virtual Conference Office and Expands Firm with Green Horizon and Exhibition Six New Partners View Article View Article View Article Read More Watt’s new in the Market New starters Market Recognition New Energy Bulletins: The Clean Energy Council published its 2022 Clean Energy Australia Brett Heading Adriaan van der Merwe Report. Some of the key findings of the report includes: Partner and Senior Associate • 32.5% of Australia’s total electricity generation came from clean energy in Chairman of Partners AFR Features Hamilton Locke – 2021, an increase of 4.8% in 2020. View Profile View Profile One of the Largest Increases to • 27 large-scale projects were completed in 2021, adding 2955 MW of new Law Firm Partnerships in Australia large-scale renewable energy capacity to the grid. Read More • 68 large-scale projects were under construction at the end of 2021, Grant Parker Cedric von Duering representing more than 9 GW of new capacity and employing over Partner Lawyer ARENA launched the Funding Boost for 35,000 Australian workers. second round of its Queensland Green Future Fuels Program, Hydrogen • Australia’s largest battery was commissioned in 2021 and a further 30 View Profile View Profile allocating $127.9 Demonstration Plant. large-scale batteries were under construction at the end of the year with million in funding to a combined capacity and storage duration of 921 MW/1169 MWh. support fleets to shift View Article Legal 500 Recognises Hamilton to new zero emissions Read More Chris Hood Nasreen Jahan Locke in 2022 Asia-Pacific Guide vehicles over the next Partner Lawyer Read More four years. A new deal between Fortescue Future Industries and E.ON will see the Australian company deliver 5 million tons of green hydrogen to Germany, View Profile View Profile View Article the Netherlands, and multiple cities in Europe by 2030. Greenpeace launches its Green Electricity Guide, indicating which retailers provide the greenest energy. Michael Boyce John Hibbard Hamilton Locke Recognised In USA Department of Energy establishes Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Partner Lawyer Doyle’s 2021 NSW Guide $9.5 Billion Clean Hydrogen Initiatives. Australia’s largest coal-fired power station, Eraring, to close in 2025, seven Read More View Profile View Profile years early. The conflict in Ukraine sees fuel prices soaring and Europe scrambling to EOI for NSW’s 700MW Australian government’s ensure its energy security. Waratah Super Battery. Critical Minerals Strategy Australian researchers claim its patented capillary-fed electrolysis cells achieve Catherine Johns Claudia Bertone Announcement 95% efficiency, adding to the competitiveness of hydrogen. Special Counsel Lawyer Chambers and Partners Recognises View Article View Article The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its sixth Hamilton Locke in 2022 Global Guide assessment report www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/. The report highlighted View Profile View Profile Read More some key risks for Australia: • Disruption and decline in agricultural production. • Cascading, compounding and aggregate impacts on cities, settlements, infrastructure, supply-chains and services due to wildfires, floods, droughts, heatwaves, storms and sea-level rise. Watt’s next • Inability of institutions and governance systems to manage climate risks. $100million of the 2022 Federal Budget being invested in the Port of Newcastle to AEMC publishes draft The Federal ensure it is hydrogen ready. report on changes Government has Announcements by Origin and All things mobility will be the Australian Energy Week Applications for the ARENA Large Scale Solar Battery Storage Funding AGL on sooner than expected topic of our next quarterly 2022: 7 to 9 June 2022 to energy and gas announced the Round closed on 31 March 2022. retail rules to allow for introduction of coal-fired power plant closures publication. hydrogen and renewable concessional tax AEMO Quarterly Energy Dynamics for Q4 2021 observations: makes one wonder if more gases. treatment, which • Average renewable penetration levels for the quarter increased from 31.6% such announcements are will apply to revenue in Q3 to 34.9% in Q4. to follow. View Article generated by primary • Black coal-fired generation fell to its lowest Q4 average since NEM start, with producers from the sale both Queensland and New South Wales contributing to the decline. of Australian Carbon Connecting Green Hydrogen Solar Energy Future Australia Australian Clean Energy Credits (ACCUs) and • Record uptake of distributed PV capacity (estimated to be approximately 3.2 GW APAC 2022: 25 to 26 July 2022 2022: 25 to 26 July 2022 Summit 2022: 19 to 20 biodiversity certificates. in 2021) drove quarterly output to new highs in Q4, contributing July 2022 to substantial daytime demand reductions. View Article AGL rejected the takeover bid from Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield. While not going ahead, the bid did send a strong market signal that the private sector is driving the renewable economy and that the days of business as usual at coal generators have come to an end. 3 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 4
Spotlight - Adriaan van der Merwe New Energy Predictions 2022 Adriaan is a senior associate in Hamilton Locke’s New Energy team. He advises the public and private sector The New Energy team at Hamilton Locke 5. EV Uptake on infrastructure development, power projects, construction, regulatory matters and energy related disputes. has a front seat to the energy transition. Global sales of EVs are likely to increase drastically. He has extensive experience advising on the technologies of wind, solar PV, CSP, landfill, biomass, nuclear Relevant insight and knowledge of the Whilst Australia may be behind its Western and hydro. Adriaan’s other work includes battery storage, transmission, distribution and procurement sector has allowed us to advise on the counterparts, we should expect record electric car related assignments. development, financing, construction and sales in 2022. operation of solar, wind, hydrogen and storage projects across the Asia Pacific 6. Behind the meter PPA’s Journey to becoming a lawyer region. Expect an increase in the co-location of industrial energy off takers and energy generation assets. I always knew that I wanted to be involved in building We especially expect to see an increase in the infrastructure. Part of this is due to the unintended conditioning Here are our 2022 New Energy predictions. You can construction of data centers and crypto mining of my father (an electrical engineer) who revelled in explaining also access the video here. assets, as well as accompanying regulatory transmission losses and electricity pricing structures to me intervention. from an early age. I started as a graduate in the Projects and 1. Large energy storage Infrastructure team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc in South Africa at a time when the renewable industry was taking off. I moved Large energy storage is key to solving the 7. Electric Vehicle Charging to Australia in 2019 to expand my construction experience and intermittency problem associated with renewable An increase in EV charging stations can be expected joined MinterEllison in Sydney. energy. As such 2022 will see a strong push towards to address the increase in EV usage. A rollout of gigawatt scale pumped hydro projects. publicly accessible EV charging stations will be seen, Proudest career moment as well as an increase in EV charging stations on 2. Commercial & Industrial Rooftop Solar private properties. Without a doubt I am proudest of being part of the team that Following heavy investment in 2021, we are advised Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd (the South African energy expecting to see the deployment of commercial 8. Renewable Energy Zones utility) as buyer, national transmission company and system and industrial rooftop solar. This is driven on the The development of Renewable Energy Zones in operator in its participation in the South African Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Program (REIPPPP). The REIPPPP is supply side by cost reductions in these systems New South Wales will create an increased demand a flagship public-private partnership program that was designed and regulatory change that allow systems to be for construction contractors. As this will occur in to contribute towards socio-economic and environmentally aggregated in wholesale markets. From a customer’s a construction market with a decreased appetite sustainable growth, and to start and stimulate the renewable demand perspective, the significant increase in retail for renewable energy projects, developers should energy industry in South Africa. energy costs lead to rooftop solar being a competitive expect a more stringent contractual risk allocation alternative that provide significant savings. compared to that encountered in the past. The program included the following technologies: onshore wind, CSP, solar PV, biomass, biogas, landfill gas and small hydro. Part of this mandate included contract and claims management 3. Green Hydrogen 9. Offshore Wind Industry for 94 renewable energy projects, as well as the resolution of After seeing significant public and private investment Australia’s nascent offshore wind industry will disputes and all ancillary processes contemplated under the in green hydrogen projects in 2021, this year will continue to grow after the heavy regulatory project documents. see green hydrogen focused on the mobility market. changes introduced in 2021. If an AEMO hydrogen Expect growth in hydrogen heavy haulage trucks and superpower scenario plays out, the offshore wind Why I joined Hamilton Locke trains, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. industry will play a massive role in contributing 256 The New Energy team’s focus on renewable energy aligns GW of wind. 4. Global Supply Chain Issues perfectly with my world view. I resonated with the idea of working in new and innovative ways and doing the kind of work Global supply chains for renewables will continue 10. Floating Solar PV that will leave the world better than we found it. It is a privilege to tighten. Given the rise of new COVID variants, Expect an increased uptake in floating solar PV. to be part of a firm that has as its foundation a focus to serve its and China’s COVID Zero policy, we are likely to see Benefits of this technology include an increased clients, its employees and its community. workforce shortages in China. This will have knock electricity yield due to the cooling effect of water on on effects for renewable projects in Australia and solar PV panels, a reduction in water evaporation, The Halo Group mentality worldwide, as the Chinese supply of renewables a reduction in algal growth and an improvement in equipment will continue to be delayed. water quality. At Hamilton Locke the sense of collaboration is palpable and very real. It is not strange to see colleagues walk across the floor to spit ball ideas and discuss adjacent areas of law. It adds a collegial element to work which means that we can add that extra nuance to all our matters. In the end - if our clients succeed, we succeed. Missed our previous quarterlies? Hydrogen’s Green Horizon >> No dramas – read them here: The Rise of Dispatchable Renewables >> 55 New New Energy Energy Quarterly: Quarterly: Power Power PLUS PLUS April April 2022 2022 New NewEnergy EnergyQuarterly: Quarterly:Power PowerPLUS PLUS April April2022 2022 66
Watt is ARENA funding? Hamilton Locke New Energy Team Program Summary Funding available Closing Date Partners Matt Baumgurtel Veno Panicker Partner – Energy, Infrastructure and Resources Partner – Construction and Infrastructure Ultra Low Cost ULCS is split into two Streams: AUD 40 million 11 April 2022 Sydney Sydney Solar PV Research +61 459 900 080 +61 409 495 242 1. cells and modules; and veno.panicker@hamiltonlocke.com.au and Development matt.baumgurtel@hamiltonlocke.com.au Round (ULCS) 2. balance of system, operations hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/matt-baumgurtel hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/veno-panicker and maintenance. Grant Parker Brit Ibanez ULCS aims to support the cost-effective Partner – Construction and Infrastructussre Partner, Litigation and Dispute Resolution - production of green hydrogen and low Sydney Practice Lead emissions steel and aluminium. 0402 855 728 Sydney grant.parker@hamiltonlocke.com.au +61 421 355 503 Includes funding for research groups. hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/grant-parker brit.ibanez@hamiltonlocke.com.au hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/brit-ibanez Michael Boyce German-Australian HyGATE is an initiative to support € 50 million 3 May 2022 Partner – Corporate, M&A and Private Equity; Hydrogen real-world pilot, trial and demonstration Energy and Resources and Innovation and projects along the hydrogen supply chain. Sydney Technology AUD 50 million +61 400 142 494 The objective of HyGATE is to strengthen michael.boyce@hamiltonlocke.com.au Incubator Australian-German cooperation on reducing hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/michael-boyce (HyGATE) hydrogen production costs and stimulate the innovation process in both countries. Special Counsel Sandra Taran Special Counsel - Capital Markets; Corporate, Regional Australia RAMPP aims to improve the resilience AUD 50 million 31 December 2026 M&A and Private Equity Microgrid Pilots and reliability of power supply for regional Sydney Program (RAMPP) and remote communities. +61 2 8072 8271 sandra-taran@hamiltonlocke.com.au Grants between $1 million and $5 million hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/sandra-taran are available to projects that have successfully completed a feasibility study. This is an open, non-competitive funding Senior Associates Adriaan van der Merwe Hannah Jones ound, with funds available in two stages: Senior Associate – Energy, Infrastructure and Resources Senior Associate – Corporate, M&A and Private Equity Sydney Sydney 1. $30m until CY2022; and +61 2 8072 8271 +61 2 8072 8271 2. $20m until CY2023. adriaan.vandermerwe@hamiltonlocke.com.au hannah.jones@hamiltonlocke.com.au hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/Adriaan-van-der-Merwe hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/hannah-jones Future Fuels FFP is designed to drive co-investment AUD 177.7 million ongoing Associates Program (FFP) in charging and refuelling infrastructure David O’Carroll projects for future transport needs. Associate - Energy, Infrastructure and Resources +61 2 8072 8271 Intended to fund demonstration and david.ocarroll@hamiltonlocke.com.au deployment projects. hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/david-ocarroll Funding is available for: 1. light vehicle fleet operators - charging Lawyers and electrical infrastructure; and Andrew Smith Beatrice Drumore 2. heavy fleet operators - enabling Lawyer – Energy, Infrastructure and Resources Lawyer – Corporate, M&A and Private Equity Sydney Sydney infrastructure and some vehicle costs. +61 2 8072 8271 +61 2 8072 8271 andrew.smith@hamiltonlocke.com.au beatrice.drumore@hamiltonlocke.com.au hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/andrew-smith hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/beatrice-drumore Check your eligibility here: Cedric von Duering John Hibbard If one of the programs sparked your interest you can check your eligibility here. Lawyer – Energy, Infrastructure and Resources Lawyer – Construction and Infrastructure Sydney Sydney +61 411 320 631 +61 2 8072 8271 cedric.vonduering@hamiltonlocke.com.au john.hibbard@hamiltonlocke.com.au hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/cedric-von-duering hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/john-hibbard Nasreen Jahan Lawyer - Construction Sydney +61 2 8072 8271 nasreen.jahan@hamiltonlocke.com.au hamiltonlocke.com.au/our-team/nasreen-jahan 7 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 8
Power PLUS agriculture Agrivoltaics: The Future of Australian Farming? Authors: Matt Baumgurtel First published: 10 March 2022 The pressures on the Australian agriculture sector are Advantages Various projects are in different phases of development increasing, not least so due to the effects of climate across the European Union. For example, the Domaine de change. In order to ensure that this vital sector remains While the benefits of deriving an additional income stream Nidolères vineyard in France uses an Agrivoltaic system in profitable, and therefore sustainable, new ways of land from agricultural land is self-evident, the benefits go even which PV panels are installed above grapevines to create utilisation need to be explored. further: a drip irrigation system, optimise light exposure, protect • The competition for flat, well-located land for agriculture crops against weather variations and power 650 homes. Agrivoltaics, being the simultaneous use of land for both or energy generation is eliminated by co-locating solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture, activities. Australia was first proposed back in 1981. In its original form, it • Providing shade coverage leads to water efficiency and envisaged installing solar panels above crops or on the the creation of microclimates that extend growing The Australian energy transition, decreased cost of roofs of greenhouses, and by 2019 developed to also seasons and mitigate the impact of heatwaves, electricity generation, vast land mass, limited transmission mean agricultural activity between solar panels, such as droughts, frost and storms. network, reliance on agriculture, exposure to severe grazing. • Increased PV panel performance due to lower soil weather events and abundance of sun could mean that temperatures. Australia is uniquely positioned to benefit from Agrivoltaics. While there is still a lot of groundwork to be done, Australia The Australian government has however not voiced seems to be uniquely positioned to benefit from, and • Decentralised electricity generation. • Increased land value and risk mitigation through its support for Agrivoltaic projects in the same way as pioneer, this method of co-location farming. other countries. Some industry players have however diversification of income streams. • Increased energy security. recognised the potential synergies, and test projects are How does it work? being developed around Australia. The scientific premise of Agrivoltaics is that different crops Disadvantages have different light saturation points, meaning that there • Agrivoltaics is not suited for crops that require high light The Future of Australian Farming? is a maximum amount of light that plants can absorb. The intensity and may lead to decreased yields for some It is clear that there are benefits in crop diversification, light not being used by crops can therefore be used for shade tolerant crops. and farming energy through Agrivoltaics may be the cash other purposes, such as electricity generation. • Slightly higher installation costs for arrays and crop the agriculture industry needs. The advances in panel Facility construction generally entails photovoltaic solar greenhouses. technology and crop management could mean that the panels being spaced in-between crops, installed on arrays • Excessive crop shading leads to a greater risk of elusive goal of living in greater balance with nature may be above crops (allowing machine access and crop growing), bacterial pathogens developing, which causes a closer than we thought – and what an exciting prospect installed on top of greenhouses or installed in such a way reduced shipping and shelf life for products. that is. that grazing is possible underneath. International uptake While panels were originally installed with space in- between to allow optimum light access, advances in panel The Italian government is investing €1.1 billion to support 2 transparency, sun tracking and crop monitoring means GW’s of Agrivoltaics as part of its post-COVID recovery plan. that panel placing options are ever increasing. French president, Emmanuel Macron, recently announced that Agrivoltaics will become one of the main pillars of France’s energy system. The German federal government is also supportive of Agrivoltaics and have released plans to support the co-location of photovoltaic systems and agricultural land. 9 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 10
Power PLUS agriculture Panel your Canal Authors: Matt Baumgurtel, Brett Heading, Peter Williams , Andrew Smith First published: 29 March 2022 In a world that is shifting away from the use of fossil fuels, potentially play host to approximately 40 MW of solar PV a top priority is finding new, innovative ways to conserve capacity.[1] and create energy in the renewable energy space. Solar In India, the Jharkhand Energy Development Agency is canals are one of the latest innovations driving positive tendering for a MW scale solar canal project with the change in the race to net-zero by 2050, and various successful proponent expected to conduct site surveys countries are eagerly getting on board. for canals that can be utilised for grid-connected solar PV. In 2012, Gujarat State Electricity Corporation and Sardar The case for Solar Canals Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited commissioned a solar In response to what is shaping up to be the worst canal project that included a 1 MW plant covering 750 megadrought in the U.S for the last 1,200 years, metres of the Narmada canal. It was projected that the solar researchers at the University of California have developed PV panels would prevent the evaporation of approximately 9 the ‘solar-canal solution’. Project Nexus is a $20 million million litres of water per year.[2] project to build solar panel canopies over the Turlock Irrigation District canals, expected to be complete in 2024. Australia’s irrigation canal system Described as “covering canals with solar panels”, the The World Resources Institute ranks Australia as a country University’s 2021 study found solar canals can result with medium to high water stress.[3] One does not have in multiple benefits for water and energy infrastructure. to look far to see the devastating effects of water scarcity Most notably, in the context of California, solar canals that parts of Australia has endured during certain periods may reduce evaporation of water canals by up to 82%, in our history. Water scarcity can have a significant impact or approximately 286 billion litres of water a year. This on our agricultural sector, much of which is reliant upon the is enough water to irrigate 50,000 acres of farmland or health of our water systems and the major irrigation areas provide 2 million people with an adequate water supply. that such systems feed. Australia is home to extensive At the same time, the solar panels can generate enough canal systems that supply water to Australia’s largest energy to account for a sixth of the state’s total energy irrigation areas. The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area has about needs. 3,500km of canals, the Murray Irrigation includes 3,000km of canals and the Goulburn Murray Water area in Victoria While a potential disadvantage of solar panels is the cost has about 7,000km of canals.[4] Leakage, seepage, and of installation and upkeep, the design of solar canals evaporation from delivery canals all contribute to significant ensure they are a long-term investment. The canal creates amounts of off-farm water losses, which is estimated to be a cooler microclimate for the solar panels, allowing them 130 billion litres per year in the Murrumbidgee valley alone. to perform at maximum capacity for a longer period. [5] Investment in piping or lining canals could help prevent Solar canals may also relieve concerns that renewable off-farm evaporation, but the costs of undertaking such energy infrastructure takes up land that may be used for improvements are prohibitively expensive. This provides an other purposes, such as farming or residential homes. opportunity to implement proven solar canal technology to Instead of separate solar farms, panels are installed reduce canal water evaporation and improve solar PV panel directly over canals, thus maximising efficient use of efficiency. space. The development of solar canals marks the newest chapter of innovative renewable energy solutions and demonstrates International context the world’s capacity and resilience to innovate our way to Countries such as India and France, and even companies net-zero by 2050. The message is clear – Australia should such as Coca-Cola have implemented solar canals as part draw on international experience in solar canal development of their renewable energy schemes and infrastructure. and capitalise on the vastness of our in-land waterways to increase renewable generation and conserve scare water The French are buying into the solar canal innovation with resources. Societe du Canal de Province and the energy provider Sergies signing a partnership agreement to jointly finance, [1] https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/23/frances-provence-canal-to-host- build and operate four solar PV systems with an aggregate 12mw-of-solar/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin capacity of 12 MW on the Provence Canal. The Provence [2] https://arena.gov.au/assets/2016/01/Opportunities-for-renewable-energy-in-the- Canal provides water to 110 municipalities in the southern Australian-water-sector.pdf page 5 [3] wri.org/aqueduct French regions of Bouches-du-Rhone and the Var which [4] CSIRO, “Water – Science and Solutions for Australia”, page 113 include major cities such as Marseille and Toulon. The two [5] Ibid companies have estimated that the Provence Canal could 11 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 12
Power PLUS agriculture Soil carbon Authors: Matt Baumgurtel, Grant Parker, Andrew Smith, Ally Frizelle First published: 08 April 2022 The profit margins of utility-scale solar farms continue to Can solar farm projects participate in soil It is possible that the land between and under solar shrink, putting financial pressure on an industry that has carbon projects that generate ACCUs? PV panels would be considered to have been used for a critical role to play in the race to net-zero. To alleviate pasture, cropping or bare fallow during the whole baseline this financial pressure, it is important for developers of Whether project land may qualify to be an “eligible offsets period. The baseline period is defined as the 5 year period solar farms to access new revenue streams. Solar farm project” and be entitled to generate ACCUs is governed by immediately before the application to be an eligible offsets developers should consider implementing carbon farming the following Federal legislation: project is made. projects that utilise the land under and between solar PV 1. Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 The Methodology defines “structure” as an object that is panels to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) (Cth) (the Act); made of several parts, that prevents pasture or cropping under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). These ACCUs 2. Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations from occurring underneath more than 5% of the ground could then be sold to generate additional revenue for solar 2011 (Cth) (the Regulation) area of the object. The Explanatory Memorandum for the farm projects. Methodology makes it clear that the term “structures” in 3. Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 limb (b) is not intended to include “fences, solar panels or What is carbon farming and soil carbon? (the Rule); and other structures under which agricultural activities may still Carbon farming is an approach to optimising carbon 4. Carbon Credits (Carbon Farm Initiative – Estimation occur and soil sampling can take place.” capture on working landscapes by implementing farming of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Using practices that are known to improve the rate at which Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination Status of ACCU market CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored in 2021 (the Methodology). It is estimated that the total value of the secondary market plant material and/or soil organic matter. In short, carbon The Act, the Regulation, the Rule and the Methodology grew to $150 million during 2021 which was a 170% farming is farming in a way that reduces GHG emissions or all set out a number of eligibility criteria and processes increase on 2020 and a 120% increase on 2019.2 This is captures and holds carbon in vegetation and soils. that must be followed by a soil carbon project. First, to be a positive signal for solar developers as the Regulator has Soil carbon projects remove carbon from the atmosphere entitled to ACCUs, the project proponent must apply to the historically been the largest purchaser of ACCUs, under by storing it in soil. The soil carbon method is one of Clean Energy Regulator (the Regulator) for a declaration ERF contracts. the many accredited methods under the ERF that can that the soil carbon project is an “eligible offsets project”. The Act sets out a number of criteria that must be satisfied It is important that solar farm project developers do not be implemented to offset or remove CO2 from the before the Regulator can declare that a soil carbon project “self-select” themselves out of being an “eligible offsets atmosphere. This can be achieved by increasing the is an “eligible offsets project”. Careful consideration of these project”. Therefore, we strongly recommend solar farm amount of decomposing plant material and microbes in criteria must be had to ensure that any potential soil carbon project developers seek out professional advisors to help the soil. A soil carbon project will involve the establishment project that proposes to use the land between and under assess their carbon farming project’s suitability under of specific project management activities and management solar PV panels is declared an “eligible offsets project”. Federal legislation. We at Hamilton Locke are already actions that change agricultural soil conditions to improve engaging with our clients in relation to co-locating carbon crop and pasture growth.1 One of these criteria is that a soil carbon project satisfies the farming and solar farm projects. Please get in touch with The below diagram sets out how plants and soil sequester requirements of the Methodology. The Methodology sets out our New Energy lead, Matt Baumgurtel, should you wish carbon from the atmosphere: a number of threshold criteria that a project must meet to be to discuss. an “eligible offsets project”. The Methodology sets out what is “eligible land”. To be eligible land the project area must satisfy the following criteria: 1 the land must have been used for pasture, cropping or bare fallow during the whole baseline period; 2. there must be no dwellings or structures on the land; 3. as at the end of the baseline period, it was reasonable to expect that carrying out eligible management activities proposed by the relevant land management strategies will increase the carbon sequestered in the land; and Source: https://carbonfarmersofaustralia.com.au/ 4. it is possible to sample the soil on the land consistent with the requirements of the Methodology. 13 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 14
Power PLUS Mining Renewing the Mining Industry Authors: Matt Baumgurtel, Michael Boyce, Adriaan van der Merwe, David O’Carroll, Alexandra Frizelle First published: 07 April 2022 In this article, we examine the greening drivers in the others to implement similar solutions as they too target As adding renewable generation to a mine site is an mining industry and discuss why renewable generation net-zero operations. upfront capex costs, the operational costs of these technologies are well placed to realise these goals. facilities are drastically lower than diesel powered sites. Not only does this make sense from an ESG perspective, This is because sunlight and wind are free and the design but it also utilises the opportunities of declining generation The old ways are no longer fit for purpose life of renewable generation facilities can often exceed 25 costs, decentralised generation technologies, the rise of years with relatively minimal maintenance costs. Batteries Mines play a crucial role in the domestic and global storage technologies and potential additional revenue have a comparatively shorter service design life and mining economy, providing the raw materials necessary to streams. companies can expect to change batteries twice during produce many different products. However, the nature of the service life of the solar or wind farm. However, batteries mining operations is that they are often found in remote Switching to renewable technologies are a less mature technology and cost reductions and places with little or no access to the electricity grid. Mining service life increases can be expected in the short term. Australia is fortunate to have world leading solar and wind operations consume large amounts of electricity and, resources. Solar PV or wind turbines, when coupled with since a reliable power supply is critical, mining companies have traditionally relied on diesel and gas generation as storage technology, can be deployed to provide low- The Role of Green Hydrogen cost zero emissions power to sites that would otherwise the baseload power supply. Mining projects are well placed to provide an important need significant capital expenditure to connect to the demand side industry for green hydrogen (GH2). GH2 can Whilst gas and diesel generators are reliable, they can be grid or be forced to rely on fossil fuelled generators. be used to store renewable energy to generate electricity. very expensive to operate and market conditions cause Rapid advancements in energy storage technologies It can also power equipment and trucks and cars, and gas and diesel costs to be highly variable - the current are improving efficiency and providing the solution to it can even be used in certain traditionally hard-to-abate environment is an excellent example of this. There are the renewable intermittency problem (i.e. that renewable sectors such as steelmaking as a reducing agent. At the also additional costs with companies spending significant energy is only generated when the sun shines or the wind moment, hydrogen is only used as a part-replacement for capital to build infrastructure and on logistics, not to blows). coal or coke in steel operations, but in these large-scale mention the various health and environmental impacts. Take for instance the development of mineshaft energy undertakings, even a partial replacement of a large amount The mining industry is also facing other significant storage by companies such as Green Gravity, which of carbon can make a significant impact. challenges. For example, diesel generators can produce deploy super-heavy weights in legacy unused mine The cost of electrolysers is currently the main issue when around 1kg of CO2 for every kWh generated. Increasing shafts (estimated at nearly 100,000 across Australia) to it comes to scaling up and utilising GH2 economically. pressure from activists to stop projects harmful to the capture and release energy. The weights are raised at While electrolysers are not yet at a price point where they environment and the abandonment of coal stocks from times of the day when energy prices are cheap (or on- can be deployed at scale to produce the amount of GH2 investment portfolios, therefore, come as no surprise. In site surplus generation is available) and then lowered at required for these large mining projects, as the technology addition, stakeholders and directors of companies are the precise moment the power is wanted - either for an advances and demand through industries the resources requiring an increased focus on ESG and, in particular, industrial purpose or simply because energy prices in the sector grows, electrolysers costs are expected to reduce ESG issues are often a critical part of the assessment grid make it an attractive time to dispatch. Importantly, accordingly. process of financiers that provide the capital that enables the environmental footprint of such an operation is very mining projects to be funded and developed. small even when compared to alternative energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries. Carbon Neutrality by 2050 The infrastructure required for the renewables revolution to proceed is however heavily reliant on the mining While becoming fully independent from diesel or gas is As Australia pivots towards carbon neutrality by 2050, Woodside, have unveiled plans to spend billions of dollars industry to provide the necessary raw minerals for its difficult for a mine, energy costs can be reduced drastically resource companies are already eyeing energy as an area on wind turbines and solar panels as they seek to go green. construction and continued operation. This means that when renewable generation is added to the energy mix where relatively easy gains can be made. Efforts are well It is clear that the mining and renewable energy industries sustainable solutions are required to offset the deleterious and various other ESG related benefits can be derived. underway to decarbonise operations and supply chains have and will continue to have a very close relationship. environmental impacts of the mining industry while Crucially, renewable generation is not linked to the volatile across Australia. In Western Australia alone, almost half Ultimately, mines and resource projects will need to have remaining economically viable and attractive to investors. prices of diesel and gas, making it easier to budget for of all electricity generated in the state is used outside of a holistic approach when it comes to decarbonising, energy costs. power grids by resources companies operating in remote The Australian mining sector is alive to the necessity namely one that combines electrification, energy efficiency, areas. to have a greener approach to resource extraction Mining companies can also combine different energy batteries and green hydrogen in order to make the best use and beneficiation. To this end, we have seen various generation technologies in microgrids, improving resilience As referenced above, along with a solar farm and a of potential synergies. commitments to use renewable generation to power while reducing electricity costs and meeting ESG battery, five giant wind turbines are powering much of We will be examining the opportunities for the beneficiation mining operations. For instance, Fortescue Metals Group objectives. For instance, the Agnew Renewable Energy the operations at the Agnew gold project, about 1,000 industry through initiatives such as green steel and green has committed to build the multi-billion-dollar Uaroo Microgrid project will consist of five wind turbines delivering kilometres north-east of Perth. Energy company EDL, aluminium in a follow up to this article. Renewable Energy Hub in the state’s Pilbara region an 18 MW wind farm, a 10,000 panel 4 MW solar farm and which built the Agnew power system, estimates there is in Western Australia which will use alternative energy a 13 MW / 4 MWh battery storage system with security about 2 gigawatts of “off-grid” power demand in Australia. sources to power its Pilbara mining operations. The and reliability of the microgrid underpinned by a 16 MW And other major players, including Rio Tinto, BHP and company has said that it hopes the project will inspire gas engine power station. 15 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 16
Power PLUS Industry C&I Solar – the Rooftop Race has Begun, and the First to Scale Will Win Authors: Matt Baumgurtel, Hannah Jones, Beatrice Drumore First published: 08 December 2021 In our previous article, we looked at the increasing For many customers, navigating the changing landscapes Hence a high level of customer service using scalable potential for investment in the C&I solar market, with in terms of pricing, energy security, and environmental systems, including remote monitoring and artificial CBRE IM’s investment into Green Peak Energy highlighting impact can be quite disruptive to business operations. By intelligence is critical to continued growth in a fragmented the rapidly progressing nature of the C&I sector both in outsourcing that part of their business to forward focused and competitive market. Innovative commercial structures Australia and internationally. developers such as Green Peak Energy, when market to meet evolving customer requirements also differentiates conditions and economics change, customers can trust competitors in a crowded market. Matt Baumgurtel - New Energy lead at law firm Hamilton that their provider will make those choices and come back Locke, sat down with the key individuals who lead the Consequently, generating scale requires developers to to them with appropriate solutions. CBRE | Green Peak Energy transaction; CBRE Investment address several key requirements including: Management (“CBRE”) Managing Director, Direct Private • originating a strong customer base; Infrastructure Investments Asif Hussain and Director David Developers • delivering a cost-effective solution; and Xu, Green Peak Energy (“GPE”) CEO Myles Carrucan and Solar energy businesses looking to capitalize on the • having flexibility in commercial and economic project General Counsel Anthony Headlam, and Pottinger CEO opportunities that are developing in the C&I solar sector structuring - offering different solutions to meet different John Sheehy and Senior Vice President Rodrigo Arias. Consequently, C&I solar developers are now focused will need to follow Green Peak Energy’s lead to address customer needs. In this second half of our discussion with GPE, CBRE on providing a tailored, bespoke service to customers, the main barrier to success in this sector – scale. including increased system design, product development GPE’s development over the last four years is a case study IM and Pottinger we explore the opportunities currently Every C&I solar developer will tell you scale is key, and and better after-sales service. in these requirements. Myles Carrucan notes, “much of available in the C&I solar market, map how the sector is that it will be scale that drives efficiencies, which reduces the last four years of our journey has just been educating evolving (both in Australia and internationally) and discuss “It’s that depth of familiarity across all of those costs, resulting in further scale and increased efficiencies. our customers on the attractiveness of the PPA product how investors and developers can stay ahead of the curve stakeholders, and as that familiarity grows, you can jump However, successfully achieving C&I scale is challenging. and the benefits to their business,” he says, “You’ve got to capitalise on the impending growth of the sector. to the important commercial issues and system design Whereas utility scale solar developers can generate to have the ability to build a flexible, competitively-priced Power prices, regulatory change, ESG goals, energy issues without needing to talk through the fundamentals substantial revenue with only one or two large volume product, develop a distribution network to get it in front of security, equipment and installation costs (including large of solar energy,” says Anthony Headlam, “When people PPAs, C&I solar developers may need to enter over 400 potential customers and then be able explain it to them in a batteries), all point in one direction – the C&I market understand what we’re doing we can jump straight to individual PPAs to generate the same revenue. compelling way.” is primed for exponential growth to become the next what we should be talking about - how do we make this deal, and how do we tailor it for you?” Similarly, it is much easier to manage a single 200-acre A roof top solar transaction can be inherently quite dominant influence in the National Electricity Market. piece of land with a single solar farm that has been complex, so developers need to build a flexible product Increased familiarity with the solar market can also assist designed and built to operate as a single plant. To achieve that can be adapted to the various property and So how can you get into the C&I solar customers in their negotiations with landlords. “Customer” the same scale, a C&I solar owner may be managing 6000 commercial arrangements that might arise. By offering often includes tenants and their landlords, both with geographically spread roof top sites with different installed market? external legal advisors, and in trying to tailor discussions to a flexible product, tailoring it to a particular customer’s equipment or varying age, and then some roofs are unique circumstances and thereby presenting a compelling Investors, developers, and customers alike can take one party, it is possible to alienate another. sunnier than others… customer solution, C&I solar developers can capitalise on advantage of the rapidly developing opportunities that a broader customer base and begin to generate the scale By educating landlords as to the benefits of C&I solar, Being able to negotiate PPAs with hundreds of different are arising in the C&I solar sector. Where C&I solar has needed to offer a more bespoke service. Anthony Headlam proposes, “a lot of your issues with the counterparties, install solar products of high quality on previously lagged behind residential and utility scale customers fall away because ultimately, you’re developing to hundreds of different roofs and continually operate, Presenting this product to customers can be a challenge solar, a shifting perception of clean energy, uncertainty a good renewable energy product.” maintain, and manage that portfolio efficiently, and though. C&I solar takes all the elements of a sophisticated in wholesale electricity prices and a lack of resources available to build larger PV projects is driving investors According to Myles Carrucan, discussions can vary regularly (even in real time) report to those customers is the utility scale deal with financing, PPAs and long-term (and customers) towards C&I solar. depending on the complexity of a customer’s business, key to success. Process, systems and automation are also commercial contracts but needs to be presented and however, increased knowledge of solar roof top products key, and data management and analytics are fundamental packaged in a simple way to customers who don’t have is benefitting all stakeholders, with customer engagement to success. Scale requires systems, but systems are only energy at the core of their business. C&I customers Customers economic at scale. aren’t buying energy every day, so developers need to becoming less educational and more commercial. Myles Much of the C&I solar journey over the last four years notes “We recently signed our biggest project to date in Myles Carrucan attributes Green Peak Energy’s success understand the inherent information asymmetry and has been focused on educating customers on the three weeks from our initial conversation to signatures on in this regard to several factors including product offering, present straightforward offerings which make the long-term attractiveness of roof top solar and selling the benefits. a page, so that open-to close window is definitely trending project execution and operational capabilities “having the benefits of a roof top solar system easily understood and Now that customers generally understand the benefits down.” right people with the right market knowledge and the right simple to measure over time. and want to have a system installed, the customer “sale” market connections” is critical. Deploying roof top systems And potential customers interested in the benefits that Anthony Headlam, General Counsel for GPE, is confident can focus on designing the best system for the customer at scale is key; however, managing and maintaining those solar can provide are encouraged to take advantage of the that GPE has excelled in this regard, “I think that’s where at the best price, in the best contractual and commercial systems so that they continue to save customers money economic savings now. “Green Peak Energy is a true long GPE, over the journey that we’ve been on over last four structure. The competition between providers is fierce (and make the owner money) is critical. Happy customers term energy partner,” says Myles Carrucan, “Electricity years, have succeeded. We’ve refined our product into one making the customer experience and supplier reputation are repeat customers (i.e. system deployment across should be boring, from a customer perspective – it’s been that simplifies the process for customers. But that’s one of and experience key factors for customers when choosing multiple sites) and customer referral is a critical origination around for a while, it’s not a new invention.” the inherent difficulties in this space.” the best supplier partner for them. stream. 17 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 New Energy Quarterly: Power PLUS April 2022 18
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