The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) tabled its Annual Report for 2015-16 in federal parliament this week as part of its regulatory obligations showing a record $837 million in new investment.
The figure for 2015/16 is a 73 per cent increase on the previous financial year and is being used to support projects with a total value of $2.5 billion.
CEFC chair, Jillian Broadbent, said the organisation is a central part of Australia's clean energy sector despite only being in operation for three years.
"We are now a central part of Australia's clean energy sector which is reflected in the volume, diversity and scale of our investments," Broadbent said.
"It is also evident in our reach across the Australian economy and the important role we are playing in drawing in new capital to support the nation's efforts in emissions reduction." The online version of the report is available at http://annualreport2016.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au
Another organisation contributing to clean energy projects is the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) which announced $449,000 in funding this week for a hydro project.
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said hydro could be the key to unlocking cost-effective large-scale energy storage that can stabilise high levels of renewable energy in the national electricity grid.
The funds will go to the Australian National University (ANU) to map potential short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage (STORES) sites.
“This study will help us see just how cheap, efficient and effective pumped hydro systems can be in providing large-scale, reliable, clean energy storage that can feed into the grid on demand, in a range of suitable locations across Australia,” Frischknecht said.
Meanwhile, the National Energy Efficiency Conference will be held November 15-16, 2016 at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.
The conference will feature an international line-up of speakers including the head of energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency, Dr Brian Motherway.
He will be joined by a panel of experts from the UK, Denmark, Japan, Germany and the United States.
Australia's Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mark Butler, will also be in the conference with the full program available at: http://www.eec.org.au/events/national-energy-efficiency-conference/2016-conference#/2016-conference