Another 46 MW ordered for Portland Wind Energy Project
Australia's Pacific Hydro has ordered a further 23, 2 MW wind turbines from German turbine maker Repower for its Portland Wind Energy Project (PWEP) in Victoria, bringing Repower's deliveries for the project to 114 MW. The most recently ordered turbines will go up at the Cape Nelson South wind farm, the A$110 million (EUR 65.5 million) third stage of the four-stage development slated for completion in mid 2009. Work on the 58 MW second stage at Cape Bridgewater, comprising the 29 units ordered last year, is under way, with completion expected by mid 2008. Pacific Hydro's investment in PWEP has so far topped $300 million (EUR 178.6 million), it says. The operational $50 million (EUR 29.8 million) 30 MW first stage, at Yambuk, comprises Vestas 1.5 MW turbines. Construction of the planned fourth stage, at Cape Sir William Grant, is to start in 2008. Upon completion it will bring PWEP to 195 MW. The turbine supplier for stage four is yet to be decided. Plans for PWEP were first unveiled in 2001 and the project gained full permission in 2003 with the expectation that all four stages would be complete by 2006. The entire project, however, was put on hold when the federal government refused to extend its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target program. The project's resurrection, says Pacific Hydro, was driven by Victoria passing legislation for 10% of state energy to come from renewables by 2016. When completed, PWEP will meet 7% of the state's residential electricity needs, says Pacific Hydro. "Without the Victorian target, we would not have been able to commit this level of investment," says the company's Andrew Richards. Pacific Hydro operates three wind farms totalling 100.7 MW in Australia, including Yambuk, but says it hopes to have installed 300 MW by 2011.