<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-giant-says-australia-among-easiest-places-on-planet-to-be-green-and-competitive/>
"The global renewables giant behind the giga-scale solar farm that will help
power Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter and refineries in Queensland says Australia
is one of the best places in the world to be “green and strongly competitive”
at the same time.
Denmark-based European Energy has a renewables pipeline of more than 60
gigawatts (GW) across 25 international markets, around 9 GW of which is under
development in Australia, including the 1,100 megawatt Upper Calliope solar
project.
Upper Calliope – which is currently seeking environmental approval under the
federal government’s
EPBC Act – would be the biggest solar project, by far,
on Australia’s main grid if built today – but it has another much more
significant claim to fame.
The huge solar farm this year became one of three projects contracted by mining
giant Rio Tinto to help power its Queensland smelters and refineries, in one of
the three biggest renewable energy power purchase agreements Australia has
seen.
European Energy CEO Knud Erik Andersen traveled to Australia in March to mark
the launch of construction at the company’s 100 megawatt (MW) Lancaster Solar
project in northern Victoria, switch on a solar farm in Victoria, and to meet
with Rio Tinto in Queensland.
He says that while Australia is politically divided over what is the best
source of energy to power industry in the future, industry has already made its
choice.
“Of course, global industries would like to be part of the green agenda, but
they … also would like to stay price competitive,” Andersen told
Renew
Economy in an interview following his Australia visit.
“And I don’t see any contradiction between being green and being competitive.
“I actually think, especially in a country like Australia, with the natural
resources you have, it’s one of the countries on the planet where it’s easiest
to be green and be strongly competitive at the same time.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
