ACEN Australia and SmartestEnergy Sign a PPA for Renewable Electricity Generated by New England Solar

ACEN, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ACEN Australia, and SmartestEnergy have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to offtake renewable electricity generated from Stage 1 of ACEN Australia’s New England Solar project in NSW.

The eight-year agreement provides SmartestEnergy with an offtake of 25% of the output of the 400 MW Stage 1 project, reducing the need for electricity that could otherwise be sourced at a higher emissions intensity.

ACEN Australia Managing Director David Pollington said the agreement is another milestone for the company’s inaugural project which stands as a major contributor to the National Electricity Market (NEM). “We have a bold strategy to help Australia transition to a clean energy future, and we are excited by this first offtake with SmartestEnergy, enabling us to bring more renewable energy projects to life and clean electricity for Australian homes and businesses.”

The 400 MW initial phase of New England Solar, ACEN Australia's first operational project, was constructed with the help of host landholders, First Nations people, and the Uralla community. When the 720 MW project is completed and integrated into the National Electricity Market (NEM), it will rank among the biggest solar projects in Australia, producing enough clean, renewable energy to power about 300,000 typical Australian homes.

Through the New England Solar Social Investment Program, ACEN Australia has already invested over AUD200,000 in the Uralla and surrounding communities, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the New England region. Over the course of the following 25+ years, an additional ~AUD7 million in community money will be allocated.

SmartestEnergy Australia CEO Robert Owens said the renewable energy purchased from ACEN will be made available to commercial and industrial customers throughout Australia. “Our goal is to help Australian businesses procure 100% renewable energy to fast-track their net zero journey, and we are very pleased to be able to partner with ACEN who is leading the sustainable energy landscape that integrates community prosperity.”
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ACEN Australia is the platform representing ACEN’s renewable energy assets in Australia. With more than 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity of large scale renewable energy generation in construction and operations, and more than 8GW capacity in the development pipeline, its portfolio includes several solar, wind, battery and pumped hydro projects across Australia.

New England Solar (Stage 1) in NSW is ACEN Australia’s first operational project. It is one of Australia’s largest solar projects participating in the National Electricity Market (NEM) and is the largest solar project in Australia to be financed on a fully merchant basis. Stubbo Solar in the NSW Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone is ACEN Australia’s second project, which commenced construction in late 2022.

​SmartestEnergy is a people-powered renewable energy company driven by a team of National Energy Market experts and strong relationships with customers and partners. With a Sydney office established in 2020, SmartestEnergy has thrived for two decades in the UK market and is now a significant player in Australia.