South Australia’s 270 MW Hornsdale Wind Farm has won a contract to deliver an additional 100 MW of power to the ACT, which will help secure up to 250 construction jobs in SA’s mid-north.
Developed by French company Neoen in partnership with Megawatt Capital Investments, Hornsdale is the first successful project in the ACT Government’s second large-scale wind reverse auction process.
SA Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith said that under the reverse auction, companies were invited to put forward bids to the ACT Government detailing how they could generate the greatest amount of renewable energy at the lowest price.
“Hornsdale has been able to achieve Australia’s lowest known contract price for renewables at $77 per megawatt hour,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“Neoen expects the Hornsdale project to provide enough power for 56,000 Canberra homes and provide 13 per cent of the Australian Capital Territory’s projected electricity demand in 2020.” <
Hornsdale was awarded its first contract to deliver 100 MW to the ACT in February 2015.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said having 200 of the 270 MW now allocated means that construction jobs will be secured for the next three years over the first and second stage of the wind farm build.
“Construction is currently underway on Stage 1 with commissioning expected to occur sometime in 2017.”
He added that the Hornsdale project reinforces SA’s reputation as Australia’s wind energy leader – having attracted around 40 per cent of Australia’s installed capacity.
“South Australia aims to be a low-carbon electricity powerhouse and a net exporter of renewable energy in the future.”
Mr Hamilton-Smith said the State Government continues to provide case management support for Neoen’s investments in South Australia through the newly established investment Attraction Agency, which is available for companies looking to expand their operations or establish a presence in the state.