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BILLION DOLLAR GREEN ENERGY HUB

Spark Infrastructure, the partial owner of SA Power Networks, Transgrid, Powercor, CitiPower and the Bomen Solar farms is looking at developing a 2.5GW renewable energy hub in the middle of the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in NSW.

The Dinawan Energy Hub is strategically situated along the route of the planned interconnector between South Australia and NSW. The EnergyConnect project will be a 330KV interconnector running between Wagga Wagga and Robertstown in South Australia and will open up more than $20B of new renewables projects.

The Dinawan Energy Hub will be located halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie and due to its location will support the existing network and the Humelink and Karanglink interconnectors.

The hub is expected to be completed by 2025 and is expected to include 1GW of wind, solar and battery storage. The $1.5B project will be undertaken in stages with the first stage expected to

commence construction in 2024.

Spark Infrastructure have completed the project identification stage of the development and now will undertake engineering studies and community consultation. The final investment decision is expected in 2024.

In some ways the Dinawan Energy Hub will compete with the NSW government’s plans to develop the REZ however Spark infrastructure believe the REZ and the energy hub can be developed together.

Spark Infrastructure is also in the news with a potential takeover bid for the multi-billion-dollar business.

Leading global investors including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension fund have showed interest in investing in renewable energy and infrastructure projects in Australia.

It is understood these investors are looking at investing $5B to take over Spark Infrastructure.

If the takeover goes to plan, KKR and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan may add the Australian market to their target markets having recently bought a stake in Finland’s largest electricity distributor. KKR is also in the process of buying John Laing, a developer with interest in renewables assets in Australia.

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