The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has released its second annual report.
The organisation says it has managed $1.2 billion in support of more than 200 renewable projects, fellowships and scholarships with a total project value of around $3.5 billion.
Among those were several world-first and Australia-first projects; including the hottest pressurised supercritical steam ever produced using energy from the sun and a project to build the first renewable-powered mine, township and port in Australia.
For every dollar invested by ARENA, it attracted $1.90 in additional financial support.
“This past year has confirmed ARENA’s unique role in matching Australia’s future energy needs with emerging renewable energy technologies, and supporting those with the best prospects to the brink of commercialisation,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht.
ARENA’s key focus for its second year had been building on the strategies developed in 2012 to diversify and improve the affordability of Australia’s energy supply.
“Through our knowledge sharing activities ARENA has raised awareness and understanding of renewables as well as experience in developing projects that use these technologies, which in turn develops local capabilities and creates local jobs,” said Greg Bourne, ARENA’s Chair.
“In short, we are creating jobs, skills and knowledge today while building the energy infrastructure of tomorrow.”
ARENA says without the support it provides, many of the projects on its books would not have eventuated.
While the organisation has been achieving what it was tasked to do, the Australian Government announced in May it intended to axe ARENA. However, it is yet to introduce its repeal of the ARENA Act in the Senate as it does not have the support required.
“With passage of the legislation through the Senate yet to occur, we recognise that this has caused uncertainty for some of our stakeholders,” says an ARENA statement.
“However until the legislation has been passed by both houses of Parliament and given royal assent, ARENA remains open for business.”
ARENA is an independent agency that was established by the Australian Government in July 2012. It has been provided approximately $2.5 billion in funding for renewable energy projects and to support related R&D, plus activities to capture and share knowledge.
ARENA’s Annual Report 2013-2014 can be viewed here (PDF).
