Australia reopens bidding for NSW solar project

Australia has reopened a solar funding bid to AGL Energy, TRUenergy and Suntech Power for the Moree solar farm in NSW.

But British Petroleum has said it will stick with the planned 150MW solar project in Moree, New South Wales.

BP withdrew from the solar business and a drop in prices of solar photovoltaic panels in the past year were identifed as “pretty good reasons to go back and retest the market on this,” by John Grimes, CEO of the Australian Solar Energy Society.

BP, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Pacific Hydro were awarded AUD$306.5 million in funds last year; however the companies had not signed the required PPAs and missed the December 15, 2011, deadline to bring the deal to a close.

Energy minister Martin Ferguson said in a statement, “The government is committed to the deployment of large-scale renewable energy technologies in Australia. However, we must also ensure that taxpayer money is spent prudently.”

Suntech and its partner, Infigen Energy had lost the first round of the competition. AGL and CLP Holdings and TRUenergy had also sought government solar grants last year.

The government expects to make a decision on the proposed AUD$923 million PV plant in the second quarter of 2012.