Siemens has announced that it has inked a contract to supply turbines for a new wind farm in Australia. The turnkey agreement with independent power producer Neoen Australia also includes a long-term service contract.
Image credit: Siemens Australia website
The wind farm will be constructed 200 km north of Adelaide. Siemens said that construction will begin immediately.
According to the news release, once the wind farm is completed, it will generate over 400 GWh of electricity each year, and provide electricity equivalent to approximately 70,000 local homes.
Neoen Australia will invest A$250 million in the project which will make a major contribution to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government’s target of 90% renewable energy by 2020.
The project is underpinned by a 20-year contract to supply green energy to the ACT at a fixed price of $0.07/kWh (9.2 Australian Cents /kWh).
“As one of the winners of our first wind auction, Hornsdale plays a critical role in helping the ACT achieve its 90% renewable target,” said ACT Minister for the Environment Simon Corbell.
Siemens will manufacture 32 of its 3.2MW turbines for the Hornsdale project, will service the turbines and will set up a skills centre to train engineers.
“The new Hornsdale wind farm is good for the economy, good for the environment and, importantly, good for the Australia. What matters to Australia also matters to Siemens and I’m delighted that Neoen entrusted Siemens to build and maintain the Hornsdale wind farm. And through this project we can demonstrate what can be achieved when combining Siemens’ global technology with the ACT’s commitment, Australia’s natural resources and Neoen’s vision,” said local Head of Energy David Pryke.
“Since 2012, Neoen has developed directly and indirectly, more than 1.5GW of Renewable Energy projects in Australia. The Hornsdale Wind Farm is our second project starting construction this year, and the quality of the relationship with all the Stakeholders, added to the exceptional wind resource at Hornsdale have turned it into a winning project under the ACT Wind Auction, an attractive asset for our shareholders and an great business opportunity for Siemens,” added Franck Woitiez, Managing Director of Neoen Australia.
The deal was signed in Canberra last week.
