Komo Energy – A Distributed Energy Future

WHAT WE DO

Energy Market Strategies

Project Services

Funding & Procurement Strategies

Komo Energy empowers you to take action for a positive climate future. We unite people by creating real ways to accelerate the growth of renewable energy in Australia.

When it comes to creating change, we believe we work best when we work together. That’s why we partner with communities, landholders and people like you, who want to invest in, develop, benefit from and be powered by renewable energy.

Between Australia’s thriving rooftop solar and large-scale renewable industries, there is an untapped opportunity to fast-track more mid-scale renewable projects. We are already helping regional communities to develop mid-scale solar projects, the first building blocks for resilient, low-cost and renewable local energy systems.

Together, we can grow to more projects, more renewable energy technologies and make real progress towards a net-zero carbon future.

OUR PEOPLE

Gerald Arends (Director)

Head of Project Services

Gerald is a leading lawyer advising on solar and solar/battery projects both nationally and internationally, having covered transactions in more than 25 countries. Gerald has worked in a variety of legal and commercial roles in the renewable energy industry. He has 16 years standing, with the last 11 years dedicated almost exclusively to renewables. Within Komo Energy, Gerald leads on project development activities.

Gerald’s recent successes include advising BayWa r.e. on the 20 MW Hughenden project in Queensland, and the 112 MW Karadoc and the 106 MW Yatpool projects in Victoria and advising juwi Renewable Energy on the world-leading Degrussa solar/battery integration project and the Agnew hybrid project. He has worked extensively in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan. In the Philippines, he advised on the 132 MW Cadiz Solar Project, the largest of its kind in South East Asia.

Gerald is taking a reflective approach to his work and regularly publishes in relation to renewable energy, speaks at conferences and teaches postgraduate courses.

Jonathan Prendergast (Director)

Head of Energy Market Strategy

Jonathan is an experienced project manager, engineer and procurement specialist, with over 12 years’ experience in clean energy project developments and investments. He is particularly recognised for working at the forefront of renewable energy procurement strategies and business models. Within Komo Energy, Jonathan leads on work in the energy markets.

He has an extensive commercial and technical knowledge, having managed and advised on projects from feasibility through to implementation. Since 2012, Jonathan has managed innovative energy projects for the UTS as the university’s Consultant Project Manager – Energy, bringing several ‘firsts’ for Australian renewable energy procurement into the UTS portfolio. Johnathan co-ordinated the City of Sydney’s Technical Working Group on Trigeneration and worked as Project Analyst for Bendigo Bank on Renewable Energy and Community Impact investments 2014-16.

Jonathan strives to be a leader in the development of clean energy and is continually working on leading innovative projects and updating his knowledge.

Our experience

Australia's first offsite Solar PPA

With UTS, Jonathan conceived and implemented an Australian first corporate renewable energy purchase from an offsite solar facility, Singleton Solar Farm using a local electricity trading style model.

Australia's first Precinct Trigeneration Project: Central Dandenong

In his role at Prendergast Projects, Jonathan performed a key role in developing Australia’s first precinct Trigeneration project in Dandenong as part of the VicUrban and DPCD Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative. Subsequently, Jonathan has been engaged on other pioneering projects such as the City of Sydney, North Ryde, Maribyrnong Defence Site and other District Energy projects.

Karadoc and Yatpool Solar Farms

In his role at Pegasus Legal, Gerald advised BayWa r.e. on the contracting for the substations and the solar farms for the 112 MW Karadoc Solar Farm and the 106 MW Yatpool Solar Farm in Victoria’s North West. The projects used a unique procurement strategy that allowed the projects to go to market at faster than many other solar farms.

Sandfire’s Degrussa Hybrid Solar/Battery project

In their role at Pegasus Legal, Gerald and Swati advised juwi Renewable Energy on solar/battery integration into an existing offgrid diesel network at Sandfire Resources’ Degrussa mine in Western Australia. The project was, and is still, industry-leading due to the commercialisation with a relatively short remaining mine life as well as the unusually high level of solar/battery penetration into the existing network. Gerald and Swati worked on all aspects of the commercial and legal structuring, from the design of the PPA through to EPC and O&M contracting, as well as ARENA funding, CEFC project financing and divestment to NEOEN.

NSW Regional Community Energy Fund Program

Provided financial and commercial advice to bidders in preparing submissions for the $30 million RCEF program. This involved assisting bidders with preparing responses to the RCEF assessment criteria, development of project budgets, preparation of project plans, development of project milestones and responding to requests for information.

Procurement & Project Development Services for a 162MW Solar Farm

Provided strategic, commercial advice and project development services to a UK-based developer developing a 162MW solar farm in Queensland. This involved assisting the developer in submission of the grid connection application, undertaking an independent procurement process for insurance advisory services, electricity market forecasting and key suppliers and contractors and making submissions for PPA tender processes.