Neoen to build Australian wind and storage project

AUSTRALIA: French developer Neoen will build the 220MW Bulgana wind project in Victoria, after signing a memorandum of understanding for a power offtake agreement.

by David Weston 27 June 2017

Neoen developed the Hornsdale wind project in South Australia

The project has been renamed Bulgana Green Power Hub (BGPH) and will supply 10% of its power to a new high-tech glasshouse facility being developed by Nectar Farms.

Planned for a site near Stawell, Victoria, the hub will comprise up to 63 wind turbines and 20MW battery storage, with construction set to start in September 2017.

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is expected to supply the turbines to the wind site.

BGPH has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Victoria government for power not consumed by Nectar Farms, meaning all of the project's output has been contracted.

"If we had not been able to negotiate this agreement between Neoen and the state government, future expansion of Nectar Farms and subsequent jobs would have been lost to Stawell and Victoria," said local council mayor Tony Driscoll.

"By ensuring the greenhouses have a reliable, competitive power supply, the company can grow its business here," Driscoll added.

Neoen acquired the Bulgana project in January 2017.