The Andrews Labor Government is adding to Victoria’s renewable energy credentials with one of Brazil’s leading renewable energy consultancies to establish its Australian/New Zealand HQ in Melbourne.

Minister for Energy Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer Steve Dimopoulos today announced that energy services firm Grupo Energia will create up to 70 new local jobs as part of its investment in Victoria including technical, commercial and engineering roles.

Founded in 2004 in Brazil, Grupo Energia is focused on delivering complete solutions to wind, solar, hydro and other alternative power sources and energy storage systems.

The company is a leader in Brazil and across Latin America, delivering advisory, management and operation support for solar, wind, hydroelectric and other renewable power generation projects.

The company is also a market leader in energy storage and power transmission management.

It is the latest company to invest in Victoria’s renewable energy industry, following in the footsteps of Mainstream Renewable Power, Total Eren, Tilt Renewables, Acciona Nordex, BayWa re, X-Elio and Iberdrola.

Victoria’s renewable energy targets will increase the share of electricity generated by renewables to 25 per cent by 2020, 40 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.

These targets are expected to create around 24,000 jobs by 2030 and drive an additional $5.8 billion in economic activity in Victoria.

Victoria also has a strong and competitive financial services sector ready to support new energy technology investments, providing an ideal base for expansion into the Asia Pacific region.

The Labor Government supports investment from South American based companies such as Grupo Energia through Invest Victoria and its Victorian Government Trade and Investment office in Santiago.

Quote attributed to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“The fact that yet another global company has chosen to invest in Victoria’s thriving renewable energy industry speaks volumes about our strong credentials in this sector.”

Quote attributed to Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer Steve Dimopoulos

 “This investment by a leading Brazilian energy company is a further example of strengthening ties between Victoria and Latin America’s growing economies.”

Quote attributed to Grupo Energia’s CEO Rubens Brandt

“The Victorian Government’s support was instrumental to our decision to locate the company’s Australia & NZ  headquarters in Melbourne.”