Acciona will build Victoria's second biggest wind farm

Herald Sun
Tuesday, 18 July 2006

SPANISH renewable energy company Acciona will build Victoria's second biggest wind farm, at Waubra in Western Victoria.

The $400 million project, generating 192 megawatts from 128 turbines on land leased from farmers, was approved more than a year ago by the state government when the Melbourne-based firm Wind Power was the developer. The Spanish firm took over the project last year.

Brett Thomas, managing director of its Melbourne arm, Acciona Energy Oceania , said the company had acquired the project "on the belief" the government would impose a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target on the state's energy sector.

Mr Thomas said yesterday's announcement of the 10 per cent target "has given us the confidence" to invest $50 million in the first stage of the project. Mr Thomas said there was no further development of renewable energy possible under the federal government's target, now capped at two per cent.

But the Victoria's new target meant energy retailers must tap at least 10 per cent of their power from renewable sources - such as wind, solar and hydro generators - by 2016. "That places a demand on the market for renewable technology (and) renewable generation," he said.

Wind farms produce only 104 megawatts of energy in Victoria currently, but there is approval for another 491 megawatts, including a 195 megawatt wind power generator at Portland on the southwest coast.