Premier Daniel Andrews announces six renewable energy projects as part of reverse auction
SIX renewable energy projects dotted across regional Victoria have been confirmed in an inaugural reverse auction conducted by the State Government.
SIX renewable energy projects dotted across regional Victoria have been confirmed in an inaugural reverse auction conducted by the State Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday visited Ararat in the marginal Ripon electorate to reveal the renewable energy auction will generate more than 900MW of power, higher than last year’s projected output.
Solar farms at Cohuna, Carwarp in the Mallee and Winton near Benalla will be developed as part of the scheme, along with wind farms at Mortlake South, Berrybank near Geelong and Dundonnell, also near Mortlake.
Mr Andrews said the six successful projects would create 900 jobs and produce enough electricity to power 646,273 households.
“It’s simple — greater supply of renewable energy means lower power prices and more jobs for Victorian families,” the Premier said.
Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick said Victorian taxpayers would pay hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidise the Premier’s renewable energy dream.
“Having helped to push up electricity prices by forcing the closure of Hazelwood, Daniel Andrews is now looking to taxpayers to help buy his way out of political trouble,” he said.
The largest project — the Dundonnell wind farm — would produce 336MW and be developed by New Zealand-Australian company Tilt Renewables.
Second-most powerful — Berrybank wind farm — will be developed by Spanish corporation Union Fenosa and produce 180MW.
The Cawarp solar farm would conduct nearly 122MW while the Cohuna solar farm would pump out 34MW and both would be developed by Grey Box Energy, part of the Melbourne-based Leeson Group.
Spanish corporation, Acciona, will develop the Mortlake South wind farm with an output of 157.5MW, while another Madrid-based group, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, will construct the Winton solar farm with an output of nearly 99MW.
The Clean Energy Council last year took aim at the Andrews Government for its sluggish approach to meeting its own state-based renewable energy target.
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