A new wind turbine manufacturing facility is set to open in Geelong.

Located at the former Ford Motor manufacturing site on the Princes Highway, the new facility is part of the Vestas Renewable Energy Hub (the Hub), a multi-disciplinary industry development initiative designed to support the Victorian Renewable Energy Target and Victoria’s New Energy Technologies strategy.

The facility will be responsible for making 4MW Drivetrains and Hubs, and component testing for the Dundonnell Wind Farm and Berrybank Wind Farm projects, both of which were successful in the first auction under the Victorian Renewable Energy Target. The facility will also support future wind projects in Australia.

Dundonnell Wind Farm owner, Tilt Renewables and Berrybank Wind Farm project developer/owner, Global Power Generation (GPG), welcomed the announcement.

Chief Executive of Tilt Renewables, Deion Campbell, said that the Dundonnell Wind Farm is helping to drive the boom in new jobs in the renewable sector and accelerate the move toward a more sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future.

“As the largest customer of the new Renewable Energy Hub, Tilt Renewables is very pleased to be contributing to the creation of new jobs and training opportunities for people in the City of Geelong and south-west Victoria,” Mr Campbell said.

GPG also indicated its support for the Vestas Renewable Energy Hub as part of its Local Investment Plan, committed under the long-term power purchase agreement in the VRET 2017 Reverse Auction.

In addition to the wind turbine assembly facility, the Hub also includes four other initiatives:

Establishing the Western Victorian Service Support Centre to service the growing Vestas turbine fleet in Western Victoria
Entering into a multi-year partnership with Federation University’s Ballarat Renewable Training Centre to deliver training and employment opportunities for wind turbine technicians
Establishing the Vestas Australian Main Component Logistics Centre in Geelong, a specialist facility for the largest turbine spare parts
Forming a partnership with Deakin University’s Carbon Nexus to research the next generation carbon fibre to use in making wind turbine blades longer, stronger and more productive.