Engie to move to solar after Hazelwood closure

French energy company Engie is turning to solar power, as it prepares to close its Hazelwood coal-fired power plant.

The company has advertised for solar PV developers to come to them with proposals by February 10.

Engie plans to shift their focus away from coal-based power generation, and aims to invest in and develop new solar projects.

“Engie in Australia is seeking proposals for large scale solar developments to take 100 per cent ownership,” a spokesman told AAP.

“If suitable sites are identified, Engie aims to develop these projects into operational solar plants.”

In May last year, ENGIE announced it would gradually withdraw from coal-fired power stations. In November, the company announced 500 workers would face the axe as Hazelwood approached its schedule shutdown for March this year.

The power station supplies about 22 per cent of Victoria’s energy requirements and employs around 750 workers, 250 of which will stay employed at the power station until 2023 to manage the decommissioning and help rehabilitate the adjoining mine site.

ENGIE Australia chief executive officer Alex Keisser said the power station was no longer “economically feasible” for the plant to continue operating.

 

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