Australian government support for renewables now requires public developer rating

Tenders for the projects, launched through the capacity investment scheme (CIS), are now open and are required to commence assessment through the developer rating scheme (DRS), which was launched in May. The DRS is intended to provide “landholders and local communities greater transparency about the track record, capability and conduct of renewable energy developers and transmission companies.”

Firms and developers which meet minimum standards across seven criteria are listed on a register and are awarded a community engagement star rating by the government, allowing the public to examine their credentials.

David Ulbrick, an expert in renewable energy projects at Pinsent Masons, said: “This is a concrete step away from the coal power and will help develop renewable skills and supply chains. These will be needed as we continue to move away from carbon intensive energy generation projects to a more sustainable future.”

"Participation in the DRS was originally voluntary, but developers seeking support under the latest CIS round must now take part in the scheme,” he said.

"Developers will be assessed against criteria including community impact, conduct, character, capability and capacity."

The CIS underwrites new renewable projects, offering a long-term revenue safety net that decreases financial risk for investors and ensures more renewable energy projects are built. Long-term, the CIS aims to incentivise the deployment of 40GW of renewable and dispatchable capacity by 2030, helping deliver the federal government’s 82% renewable electricity by 2030 target.

The federal government said the new 1.8GW renewable generation will be enough to power around a million homes in Western Australia. Projects totalling another 1.9GW of new renewable generation and 482 megawatts of storage have already been announced through the CIS this year.