Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Startup · $43m raised

Zen Energy

Renewable energy retailer

Adelaide, SA

Coverage

Stories naming Zen Energy. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.

Exit / M&A

Zen Energy sinks despite 11th-hour rescue efforts, blaming volatile market as banks and networks get cold feet

Renewable utility Zen Energy has entered voluntary administration despite regulators clearing Gunvor to buy its retail business; McGrathNicol is administrator and customers moved to AGL.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Funding announcement

Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

Competition regulator approval lets Swiss trading giant Gunvor proceed with buying Zen Energy's retail arm and power purchase agreements; terms undisclosed. Article weighs whether the newcomer will challenge Australia's dominant gen-tailers.

Funding announcement

Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

The competition regulator has cleared Swiss trader Gunvor to buy Zen Energy's retail arm and linked PPAs; terms undisclosed. The article asks whether the deep-pocketed newcomer will challenge Australia's big three gen-tailers.

Unnamed stage $43m

Zen says sale talks progressing well, all parties “deeply and strategically aligned” on renewables

Zen Energy says its sale process is advancing with a preferred bidder amid reports naming Gunvor; the piece also recaps HDRE's stake purchase and Zen's financial losses.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Venture debt $340m+

Major new player signs contracts for first big battery project as it aims for 6 GWh of storage by 2030

Ampyr has locked in bank debt above A$340m, a Zen Energy virtual offtake and Fluence as battery supplier for its first large battery in NSW, with a 6 GWh storage goal for 2030.

20 deals

ARENA funds national community battery roll out

Australia's renewable energy agency conditionally allocates up to $143 million to twenty named recipients for a national rollout of as many as 370 community batteries, with a second grant round flagged.

Key hire

Grid Connections: Who’s going where in Australia’s energy transition

A rolling roundup of Australian energy-sector job moves, listing dozens of executives, directors and ministers joining or leaving utilities, regulators, developers and industry bodies between May and December 2023.

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