Hamilton Knight, a boutique asset management firm, is creating a name for itself as a major player in the renewable energy space.
As a forward-thinking boutique asset manager and investment fund with a global reach, Hamilton Knight has demonstrated its commitment to helping Australia further reduce its carbon emissions by investing in significantly-scaled solar energy projects through its Alternate Energy Division.
In line with this, the firm has acquired a 215 ha parcel of land in Chinchilla, Queensland, which has been approved for the development of a 125 MW solar power generation facility. Moreover, Hamilton Knight has secured additional land in Central Highlands, also in Queensland, where it plans to build a further 25 MW of solar power generation capacity.
Queensland, which is known as the “Sunshine State”, receives above-average sunlight all year round. In summer, the average daily sunlight hours extend to nearly 14 hours; in winter, this reduces to just under 11 hours, making it an ideal location for solar power installations.
The State Of The Market
According to the Clean Energy Council, Australia’s energy mix was reportedly made up of 32.5% renewables in 2021, including solar, wind and hydropower, among others. However, under Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison, investor confidence in the sector had slowly shrunk due to his championing of coal-fired power generation. This was evident as we witnessed a 17% reduction in major financial commitments made by investors in the country for new big-scale renewables projects.
However, despite the overall renewables drop off, investment in specifically solar power generation capacity continued to grow 38.7% up from 2020.
To further bolster the sector, the recent election of Labor Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sparked an investment revival in the renewables sector following his May 21 speech where he promised Australians that the country would become a renewable energy superpower.
The Australian government’s reinvigorated support for renewable energy projects, which will almost certainly be accompanied by a number of changes to the country’s climate change laws and policies, signals a new age that will benefit those who participate in the space.
Fuelling The Future
The hope is that the new administration will make it easier for independent power producers to access the grid, as well as reap the benefits of favourable taxation policies geared at rewarding those who are joining the fight against climate change.
Hamilton Knight CEO Rod Mackay says that with demand for alternative clean energy on the rise, the price for energy at record highs and the cost of renewables continuing to fall, it is an excellent time to participate in the sector.
To find out more about Hamilton Knight’s world-class investment opportunities, contact Rod Mackay today!
