First power for Oz wind

Seven of the 32 turbines for the first phase of the 100MW Hornsdale wind farm in South Australia have been connected to the grid.

The remainder of the turbines are expected to come online in the coming months, the developers said.

The project, which is located near Jamestown 220km north of the South Australian capital Adelaide, is being developed by French renewable energy producer Neoen and built by Siemens Australia.

Hornsdale was awarded a contract to deliver 100MW to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in February 2015.

In December, it secured a second 20-year contract with the ACT government, which will allow a second phase of the project – a further 100MW – to go ahead possibly next year.

The project has the potential output of 270MW with the remaining capacity expected to come in a yet to be confirmed phase three, the developers said.

Image: Hornsdale wind farm