AGL Energy, Meridian to build $895 million wind farm in Australia
13 Aug 2010
Australian renewable energy major AGL Energy Ltd (AGL) and New Zealand's largest electricity producer Meridian Energy Ltd (Meridian) joined hands yesterday to build a 420 MW wind energy farm in the state of Victoria at a cost of approximately A$1 billion ($895 million).
The wind farm will be located in Macarthur in the south-western part of the state, about 230km west of Melbourne and when completed, will be the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The wind farm will be constructed by Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems AS, the world's largest wind turbine maker, and Sydney-based Leighton Holdings Ltd. It will comprise 140 Vestas 3.0 MW wind turbine generators, and will meet the energy requirement of over 220,000 homes.
The prestigious project was formally launched yesterday in Melbourne by John Brumby, the premier of Victoria and Penny Wong, minister of climate change, energy efficiency and water.
''This A$1 billion project will help cut emissions, create new jobs and provide clean energy for Victorians. Attracting a renewable project of this scale to Victoria is yet another example of how Victoria is leading the way towards a clean energy future,'' Brumby said.
Australia has set a renewable energy target of around 9,500 MW by 2020.
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