Coonooer Bridge has become the first operational wind farm from the ACT’s wind auction process and will soon provide power to 11,250 Canberra homes.
The wind farm is currently exporting 6 MW of energy, with full generation of 20 MW expected this month.
ACT Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Simon Corbell said Coonooer Bridge becoming operational is an important milestone in the ACT Government’s commitment to 90 per cent renewable energy for the territory.
“The energy being produced at Coonooer Bridge is the cheapest wind energy in Australia and will be supplying Canberra homes for 20 years,” Mr Corbell said.
“By 2018, we will be sourcing over 80 per cent of our energy needs from renewable sources, making us the sustainable energy capital of Australia,” he added.
Mr Corbell said another win for ACT is the fact that Windlab, the part-owner of Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm, is a locally grown business.
“Building investment and growth in the renewable energy research and development sector in Canberra is one of the great benefits of the government’s renewable energy program.”
Mr Corbell launched the ACT’s second large-scale wind auctionat the 2015 Clean Energy Summit, with Hornsdale Wind Farm the first successful project to win a contract from the auction.
Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm is located west of Bendigo in Victoria, and comprises six turbines that generate 81,000 MWh annually.
Windlab is managing the project from its global asset management centre in Canberra, and estimates its injection to the local ACT economy will be $240 million over the next 20 years of operation.