Change in the wind

Burnie Advocate
Thursday 17/5/2007 Page: 22

Tasmanian energy expertise finds new market in India
TASMANIAN wind energy expertise has gained a foothold in the emerging massive Indian market. Hobart-based renewable energy company Roaring 40s yesterday announced an agreement with major turbine manufacturer Enercon (India) Ltd for its first Indian wind farm project.

Roaring 40s' growth is expected to add another 20-odd jobs to the existing 40 within the next two years, according to spokesman Josh Bradshaw. "There are good opportunities there for further employment for Tasmania, which manifests in wages and real earnings." Roaring 40s has a growing portfolio of assets in world boom driver China and is hoping to do the same in India. "We think it will end up overtaking China in terms of the wind energy market, so there's massive potential there," Mr Bradshaw said. "It's the first hopefully in a pipeline of projects."

The agreement establishes commercial arrangements for an $80 million, 50.4 megaWatt wind energy project at Khandke, in the state of Maharashtra. It will be wholly owned by Roaring 40s and is due to be commissioned by December. Enercon Limited is one of the biggest operators in India's wind energy market.

"The Maharashtra project represents a significant milestone for Roaring 40s and reinforces the company's strong and continued growth in the Asian region," Roaring 40s managing director Mark Kelleher said. "India is one of the global leaders in embracing wind energy as a means of meeting increasing energy demand and improving the environment and Roaring 40s is very pleased to be working with Enercon to help India achieve its renewable energy targets." Roaring 40s is a joint venture between Hydro Tasmania and the CLP Group.