Acciona withdraws from Australia's solar program

Spanish firm Acciona Energy has pulled out of Australia's $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program.

Uncertainty in Australian energy markets and the absence of an offtake contract were contributing factors in its decision, according to reports by Bloomberg.
 
Acciona's project was one of eight invited to participate in the second stage of assessment for Round 1 of the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships Program.
 
Acciona had proposed to generate 200 MW using solar thermal parabolic trough technology in Queensland in the Lilyvale region, or in South Australia near Roxby Downs and Olypmic Dam.

Seven of the eight proposed solar projects picked to advance in the contest for government funding have submitted final applications for the program.


AGL Energy Ltd., BP Plc and TRUenergy Holdings Pty were selected by Australia to advance in a competition for funding from the Solar Flagships program. A proposal from China's Suntech Power Holdings Co. and Australia's Infigen Energy was also shortlisted in the category of companies aiming to develop projects using photovoltaic panels to turn sunlight into power.