Latest news with #batteryStorage
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GenusPlus wins $45m contract for 100MW Merredin BESS in Australia
GenusPlus Group has been awarded an A$65m ($45.13m) contract by Atmos Renewables for the design and construction of the Merredin battery energy storage system (BESS) in Western Australia, along with substation works. The 100MW four-hour capacity Merredin BESS project will enhance grid stability and contribute to energy security within the region's electricity market. The project is a joint development by Atmos Renewables and Nomad Energy and secured development approval in April 2024. The commencement of work on the project is contingent upon Atmos Renewables issuing a notice to proceed following financial closure, anticipated in June/July 2025. Genus will manage the detailed design, procurement, installation and civil works for the project over 18 months following the receipt of notice to proceed. The company will engage 70 personnel to complete the project, utilising substantial local content from Western Australia. Genus managing director David Riches stated: 'Genus is pleased to be increasing its presence in the renewable market through its involvement in this flagship project, which is aimed at providing significant benefits to Western Australians. 'The award of this contract highlights the strength of our customer relationships and our reputation for reliable delivery, and the company looks forward to building on its relationship with Atmos Renewables.' The Merredin BESS project is located 7.5km southwest of the town of Merredin, around 230km east of Perth in Western Australia's wheatbelt area. It is close to both the Great Eastern Highway and Bruce Rock Merredin Road, adjacent to the existing Merredin solar farm. The project will connect to Western Power's transmission substation at the nearby Merredin terminal station upon completion in early 2027. In January 2025, Genus won an A$270m ($167m) contract from Western Power for the Clean Energy Link, North Region project in Western Australia. "GenusPlus wins $45m contract for 100MW Merredin BESS in Australia" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scatec reaches financial close for the 1.1GW solar + 100MW/200MWh BESS Obelisk project
Oslo/Cairo, 15 June 2025: Scatec ASA has reached financial close for the 'Obelisk' hybrid solar and battery storage project in Egypt. The non-recourse project financing comprises USD 479.1 million provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB), and British International Investment (BII). The financing amount corresponds to approximately 80% of total estimated capex of USD 590 million. 'Reaching financial close for this project marks a major milestone for Scatec. It proves our ability to deliver large-scale hybrid projects. We are proud to partner with leading development finance institutions to support Egypt's clean energy ambitions, and we look forward to delivering this important project together with our partners,' says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog. The project will be constructed in two phases. The first phase of 561 MW solar + 100 MW/200 MWh battery storage is targeted to reach commercial operational date (COD) in the first half of 2026. The second phase of 564 MW solar in the second half of 2026. The energy will be sold under a USD-denominated 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), backed by a sovereign guarantee. Scatec has previously signed equity bridge loans (EBL) of USD 120 million for the project, postponing the project equity injections to the end of the construction period. The company is also in advanced discussions with potential equity partners, expected to conclude in the next few months. Scatec will deliver Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Asset Management (AM), and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services for the project. Scatec's EPC scope is approximately 70% of total capex. For further information, please contact:For analysts and investors:Andreas Austrell, SVP 974 38 686 For media:Meera Bhatia, SVP External Affairs & 468 44 959 About Scatec Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy plants, with 6.2 GW in operation and under construction across five continents today. We are committed to grow our renewable energy capacity, delivered by our passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of 'Improving our Future'. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'SCATC'. To learn more, visit or connect with us on LinkedIn. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act This stock exchange announcement was published by Brage Krogsrud, Investor Relations at Scatec ASA, on 15 June 2025 at 16:03 CESTSign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa city council throws support behind rural battery energy storage facility
Ottawa city council overturned a unanimous rejection of a municipal support resolution (MSR) for a controversial battery energy storage system (BESS) in the South March area. Last week, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend council reject the support resolution for the Evolugen project on Marchurst Road following a marathon meeting that heard from dozens of public delegations opposed to building the project in that location. Issues such as the ability for emergency services to reach the site in the event of a fire, how to evacuate nearby residents, and concerns about possible contamination to the local water table were raised. On Wednesday, however, city councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting the municipal support resolution, following a motion by Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry, seconded by Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard. Councillors voted 20 to 3 in favour of granting the municipal support resolution. The only councillors who voted against were Wilson Lo, David Brown, and Clarke Kelly. Coun. Tim Tierney was not present for the vote. The project was initially pitched for Fitzroy Harbour, but council denied its support. It was later moved 13 kilometres away to the South March area. Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) granted Evolugen, a Gatineau-based company, a contract to build the facility, but according to Curry's motion, the company must provide proof of municipal support to the IESO before Jan. 26, 2026, in order for the project to proceed. The motion notes that a municipal support resolution is 'not a planning approval, and if approved would not commit Council to any future land use decisions with respect to the facility.' Curry said the BESS project would make the city's grid greener and provide economic benefits to Ottawa. 'Energy is the new gold,' she said, noting that demands on the electrical grid will come from a variety of sources, including the expansion of LRT and the electrification of OC Transpo's bus fleet and of City of Ottawa vehicles. The motion also notes that the Province of Ontario, the IESO, and local hydro utilities 'have recognized and affirmed the critical role that battery energy storage systems will play in ensuring energy certainty and reliability as electricity demands in the Ottawa Region will continue to exponentially grow over the next twenty years.' West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly, in whose ward the facility would be built, said the voices of Ottawa's rural residents are being ignored. 'The community most impacted by this installation has reached out in overwhelming numbers to demonstrate they remain uncomfortable with what is being proposed and where it is being proposed,' he said. 'My community is not a bunch of NIMBYs or rural residents who are resistant to change. We understand that for a multitude of reasons, we must diversify our sources of energy and strengthen our grid with technologies such as battery energy storage.' Kelly said while residents had concerns about the proposal, they were not opposed to the facility itself. 'I will never accept that what has occurred here over the last two weeks was in any way appropriate or acceptable,' he said. 'When we talked at the first rural summit in 16 years about making sure that rural voices were heard, this is exactly what we were talking about. If West Carleton was its own municipality, this project would not get an MSR for this location.' As part of the process, council approved a direction to staff to ensure that Evolugen establish a 'Community Development Fund' by entering into a host municipality responsibility agreement with the City of Ottawa, through which it would provide an amount of at least $250,000 per year if the project proceeds. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told reporters the city is under pressure from the provincial government to approve projects like this. 'The provincial government provides the opportunity for a municipal support resolution but the provincial government also makes it clear that it wants to see these kinds of projects go ahead, so it puts us in an uncomfortable position of having to be a part of a process over which we don't have the ultimate jurisdiction and maybe in long run, it would be better if these decisions were made at the provincial level,' he said. 'Having said all that, this is neither the beginning nor the end of the process. Going forward there will be more hurdles that will need to be crossed before this goes ahead and there will be public consultation as well.' If all regulatory approvals go forward, completion of the site is expected by 2027. Evolugen's website says the facility will provide benefits to the community, including grants for local organizations, job opportunities for residents, and reduced energy costs.
CBC
06-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Rural councillors deny support for battery facility, as company seeks 'clear political signal'
Rural councillors rejected a second attempt by Gatineau-based company Evolugen to win support for a large battery facility in rural west Ottawa, after 68 people weighed in over the course of a nearly 10-hour meeting Thursday. Members of the city's agriculture and rural affairs committee voted unanimously to deny the company official backing for the project, though city council will have the final say next week. The company has already won a contract to build the facility from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), a Crown corporation responsible for managing Ontario's energy market. Now, it needs a statement of support from Ottawa councillors. West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly, whose ward would be home to the new facility, said he heard a clear message from residents. "I feel like it's overwhelmingly against the project," he said in an interview. "I think even more specifically — against the project proposed in the location where it has been proposed." That location is an approximately 4.5-hectare plot of rural land off Marchurst Road — roughly the area of eight Canadian football fields — located about 30 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa. Evolugen, a Gatineau-based renewable energy company owned by Brookfield Renewable, is seeking to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) at the site. BESS facilities are large batteries housed in containers that store renewable energy and feed it back into the grid at off-peak hours. The process to receive city council support for projects has proven difficult, though not impossible, with an Evolugen BESS in Coun. David Brown's ward garnering the unanimous backing in late 2023. The technology is a key part of the Ford government's plan to solve a looming energy supply crunch, as demand in the province is expected to increase by 75 per cent by 2050. But for many residents, the location of this particular battery trumped any broader provincial picture. 'Devil's bargain' Across the dozens of people who spoke at the meeting, views were mixed. Speakers representing business interests in the Kanata North tech park said companies there have "extreme needs" for power, and a local family-run construction company said building the facility would create good jobs. Members of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, which is partnered with Evolugen on the project, called on the city to support Indigenous-led investment. But most speakers were vehemently opposed. A petition against the project garnered more than 1,400 hand-written signatures. Loss of farmland and the risk of fire or well water contamination were the most common concerns. Courtney Argue, one of a large contingent donning matching t-shirts that read "Stop Marchurst BESS," lives about 400 metres from the proposed site. "We are David vs. Goliath here. We have been stripped of our voices to fight this," Argue said, breaking into tears. "We need you [councillors] to be loud and courageous to reject this [motion]. Our lives and our lands are depending on it." Another speaker, Brian Martin, said he and other residents aren't afraid of the technology but are opposed to building on what he considers to be an ecologically sensitive location. "This is the devil's bargain," he said. "They get all the gold, we get all the risks." Company seeks 'clear political signal' Evolugen is taking a second crack at winning support in the area. The company previously tried to sell residents on a similar project that would have been built south of Fitzroy Harbor, about 13 kilometres away from the current site. That project also faced intense community backlash, and the company later said its attempt at garnering support had not gone well. The new site, according to the company, has fewer trees and does not encroach on wetlands. Crucially, it sits on a connection to the grid. And this time around, Evolugen said it has redoubled efforts to win over locals. "We've knocked on, I would say, almost every single door within two kilometres of the site," said Geoff Wright, senior vice-president of the company. "We've had a number of conversations with people at their door. We've sat at peoples' kitchen tables." Wright is now asking the city to endorse the project and send a "clear political signal" of interest. Pressure from province The renewed bid for support comes shortly after Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce sent a letter to Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe warning that slowing down BESS projects endangers growth. The letter asked the city to "promptly review and approve" the projects, specifically singling out the South March BESS. On May 25, the mayor's office received a letter from Evolugen seeking support, just days before a walk-on motion to council waived procedure and drastically accelerated the approval process. Kelly pressed Wright on that timeline in a tense exchange during the meeting. "Cutting that process short left my community in a difficult spot to prepare for today," he said in an interview. "The message to my residents — so far in this process — is that provincial policies and the whims of provincial ministers and the IESO are more important than my residents' voices." The committee unanimously approved a motion by Kelly asking city staff to request that Evolugen pays at least $250,000 per year into a community development fund for at least 20 years, should the project go ahead. The issue goes to city council on June 11.
ABC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Victorian renewable energy project approvals spark anger in Dederang and Colbinabbin
Permits for two renewable energy projects in regional Victoria have been approved despite community opposition. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved Mint Renewables' 400-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) at Dederang in the Kiewa Valley, east of Myrtleford. The controversial project received strong objections from hundreds of community members with concerns about risks to amenities, the environment, and bushfires. Dederang resident Sharon McAvoy said she was shocked by the decision. "My initial reaction is shock, horror — gut-wrenching," Ms McAvoy said. "I guess deep down probably we expected this to happen, because the state government is not listening at all to small rural communities like Dederang. "They brush off the over 1,000 objections that people have written in. "They brush off the petition to parliament of 1,300 signatures. Mint Renewables interim head of Australia Kim van Hattum said the company welcomed the decision. "There is still a lot of work to do prior to the construction of the project," Ms Hattum said in a statement. "We remain committed to community engagement and will continue to work hard to reassure the community and the authorities that our project can coexist safely and provide benefits to the local area and Australia more widely." This is one of two BESS projects proposed for Dederang. In March the Alpine Shire council passed a motion to submit a letter to the planning minister objecting the projects. The council was contacted for comment but declined to make a statement on the decision. In Central Victoria the 500MW Cooba Solar Project permit has been approved to go ahead at Colbinabbin. Residents have pushed back on the location of the project, which they say could alter the renowned grape-growing region's microclimate. Concerns about bushfire risk and associated insurance costs, as well as heat impacts, have also been raised. The solar farm is expected to be operational from 2027 with the aim of generating enough renewable energy to power 145,000 homes. A BESS with a capacity up to 300MW is included in the plan. John Davies has managed his vineyard at Heathcote for more than 25 years and says the decision has left him "stunned and gutted". He said 271 objections had been made. "I thought fact-based arguments against the state's planning guidelines would provide a compelling argument why this 500MW solar facility should be rejected," Mr Davies said. Some of Mr Davies's main concerns were centred around how heat from the 700,000 solar panels would impact the microclimate and how much arable land would be lost. He said recourse for opponents would not be allowed under the state's fast-tracked approvals regime. The Development Facilitation Program provides sweeping powers to Ms Kilkenny and, according to the government, an "expedited planning process for eligible projects that inject investment into the Victorian economy". "Decisions made by the minister for planning under the provisions cannot be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal," the government's website states. Mr Davies said that was fundamentally undemocratic and that he had sought legal advice. "In my opinion, that means we're denied natural justice and due process," he said. "The only option we've got is to take … action in the Supreme Court." In a press release issued this week Ms Kilkenny said the program was working. "We've fast-tracked enough renewable energy projects to power more than half a million Victorian households with cheaper and cleaner energy," she said.
