The successful projects have been announced for the ACT Government’s 200MW wind auction. ACT Minister for the Environment, Simon Corbell MLA, announced the auction in March 2014.
All developers participating in the wind auction were required to demonstrate best practice community engagement processes for their projects and contributions to local job creation.
Three successful candidates have been announced for 2015:
o Ararat Wind Farm Pty Ltd for an 80.5 MW proposal to be located north-west of Ballarat, Victoria. The project is being developed by RES Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of RES UK, a global renewable energy company.
o Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm Pty Ltd for a 19.4 MW proposal to be located north-west of Bendigo, Victoria. The project is being developed by Windlab Ltd, a Canberra based renewable energy company
o Hornsdale Wind Farm Pty Ltd for a 100 MW proposal to be located south-east of Port Augusta, South Australia. The project is being developed by Neoen, a French based renewable energy company.
The three successful proposals will deliver a range of benefits for the ACT through a $50 million local investment package, including 11 full-time local jobs, a new national trades training centre and new courses for Canberra’s higher education institutions attracting 50–60 new students to the ACT each year.
The Australian Capital Region is one of Australia’s fastest growing wind investment regions. More than 800 megawatts of wind power is already in operation or planned for construction, with more than 1700 megawatts at earlier stages of development.
Under the ACT’s 90% renewable energy target, additional wind power investments will meet around 45% percent of Canberra’s electricity needs by 2020. This is more than enough to power all Canberra residences.
