Windfall in the offing

Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 23/11/2007 Page: 4

THE State Government has shortlisted six wind energy groups to supply power for the controversial Kurnell desalination plant, with most bidders flagging they would build their plant outside NSW. The initial 13 proposals have been reduced to six, with only two intending to establish in NSW: Epuron Pty Ltd, which is studying a proposal to build a wind farm near Broken Hill, and Renewable Power Ventures, which includes Babcock and Brown and National Power and is planning a wind farm at Bungendore, near Canberra. The other bidders are Origin Energy, International Power, Roaring 40s (a joint venture between Tasmania Hydro and the Hong Kong power utility China Light and Power), and Pacific Hydro.

All are touting wind farms either already operating or to be built elsewhere around the country. Unlike other states, NSW has refused to limit local electricity retailers to sourcing their renewable energy needs from projects operating in NSW. The Minister for Water Utilities, Nathan Rees, said the winning bidder for the desalination plant was expected to be finalised by March. The desalination plant will use about 400,000 megawatt hours of electricity a year to produce 250 million litres of fresh water. The proposal would involve as many as 75 wind turbines.