Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme to deliver 928 MW

The Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme has been a big success, with the scheme’s first auction set to generate more than 900 MW of clean energy for the state.

The auction, part of the Victorian Renewable Energy Targets (VRET), was initially expected to deliver at least 650 MW of renewable energy. That goal has been smashed, with the auction instead delivering 928 MW of renewable energy — almost 45% more power than originally anticipated.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the six successful projects that will produce enough electricity to power 646,273 households. Together, these projects will generate $1.1 billion of economic investment in regional Victoria and create more than 900 jobs, including 270 apprenticeships and traineeships.

The winning projects are as follows:

• Berrybank Wind Farm west of Geelong, which will produce 180 MW.
• Carwarp Solar Farm south of Mildura, which will produce 121.6 MW.
• Cohuna Solar Farm north-west of Echuca, which will produce 34.2 MW.
• Dundonnell Wind Farm north-east of Warrnambool, which will produce 336 MW.
• Mortlake South Wind Farm south of Mortlake, which will produce 157.5 MW.
• Winton Solar Farm near Benalla, which will produce 98.8 MW.
   

The Mortlake South Wind Farm will be built by ACCIONA, a provider of sustainable solutions for infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Representing a $288 million capital investment, and incorporating a scalable battery energy storage system to help boost performance and integration into the electricity grid, the wind farm will generate the clean energy equivalent of the electricity consumption of almost 80,000 Australian households, avoiding over 532,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

The wind farm is expected to create approximately 100 jobs — including around 10 ongoing roles during operations. It will also contribute to the Victorian Government’s Major Project Skills Guarantee, ensuring local apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets will work on the project.

There will be opportunities for local suppliers to get involved, with ACCIONA committed to working with government and industry to promote tenders, making as much use as possible of local skills and promoting economic growth in the state. Additionally, the company will continue its community engagement and benefits-sharing activities, working with local councils and organisations to distribute funds throughout the entire operational life of the asset.

Construction on this project as well as the others is scheduled to begin in 2019, with completion expected by 2020. The 928 MW of power produced by the projects is expected to drive a 16% reduction in Victoria’s electricity sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2034–35.

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