Coalition gives $54m from CEFC to large-scale solar and renews pumped hydro push

Plan for pumped hydro project co-located with a large-scale solar farm demonstrates government's 'strong commitment to energy security', PM says

The Turnbull government has given a $54m loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to a large-scale solar development which it says has the potential for pumped hydro storage.

Malcolm Turnbull and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have announced the government had directed the CEFC and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to fund large-scale storage and other flexible capacity projects including pumped hydro.