Energy Insiders Podcast: Pilbara wind and solar will be cheapest power in Asia

Welcome to what we expect will be the last episode of Energy Insider before the election is called.

CWP Renewables is one of Australia’s most interesting renewable energy developers, and chairman Alex Hewitt joins Energy Insiders to discuss the need to accelerate policy, the company’s wind, solar and battery project in NSW, and the giant Pilbara wind and solar plans, which will be focused on supply cheap power to local businesses, and exporting “green hydrogen” to Asia.

Hewitt says the giant wind and solar array – the biggest in the world – will deliver the cheapest power in Asia, and among the cheapest power in the world.

The company is also looking to add storage and solar to its 270MW Sapphire wind project in northern NSW, but he says at least 20 such projects are needed to transition the economy to clean energy, and a sense of urgency is needed at the policy level.

However, Hewitt also laments the connection challenges on the grid, and particularly the marginal loss factors, which is creating uncertainty for the grid. Sapphire had its MLF downgraded last year but this year it will benefit from an upgrade.

“It’s like standing in a queue with a blindfold,” he says.

You can listen to this and other episodes of Energy Insiders, and our other podcast series Solar Insiders and The Driven, here and on your favourite podcast platform.