Australian developer Pacific Hydro is to move forward with the 80MW Crowlands wind farm in the state of Victoria following the signing of a preferred supplier agreement with the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP).
The MREP – which is a group of local governments, cultural institutions, universities and corporations led by the city of Melbourne – plans to buy 88 gigawatt hours a year of electricity from the wind farm under a long-term power purchase agreement.
MREP and Pacific Hydro are working on finalising the contract, which is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Crowlands, which will be located 25km northeast of Ararat, is expected to comprise up to 41 turbines and generate 278GWh a year of electricity.
Pacific Hydro said the project will create more than 140 jobs during construction and eight full-time maintenance positions when complete.
Pacific Hydro chief financial officer Rob Spurr said: “As a builder, owner, and operator of renewables in Australia for over 25 years, we are immensely proud to have been selected as the energy partner for this project”, said today.
“This new approach to power purchasing will help our partners to take control of their costs, reduce their emissions, and directly support our work decarbonising the power system.”
Image: Pixabay
Melbourne takes lead on Oz wind
Pacific Hydro's 80MW Crowlands wind farm will comprise up to 41 turbines
By EBS