TagEnergy has signed on as an equity investor to the $3 billion Golden Plains Wind Farm project, which is set to become biggest wind farm in the country and the hemisphere.
TagEnergy has signed on as an equity investor to the $3 billion Golden Plains Wind Farm project, which is set to become biggest wind farm in the country and the hemisphere.
Set to be located on a 16,000-hectare site in Rokewood, 133km west of Melbourne and around 66km outside of Geelong, the project will be built over two stages and will include a 1,300MW windfarm, with 217 turbines and a 300MW big battery.
The project is also set to include up to six permanent meteorological masts, a terminal substation connecting to the Melbourne-Portland 500 kilovolt transmission line, 150km of internal access roads, as well as a quarry for the production of crushed rock products required for the project’s construction.
TagEnergy, which is part of the French Impala SAS group, will hold a significant majority stake in development and provide the capital to fund its construction, though exact figures are yet to be disclosed.
The first stage of the project will, in the deal with Vestas, see the delivery of 122 6.2MW turbines.
In addition to delivering the construction phase of the development, Vestas has also signed on to a 30-year service and maintenance deal.
The project is anticipated to create more than 700 direct jobs over its two phases, with construction expected to be underway by June.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm project has already received a planning approval, however locals opposing the project have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, after project was given the go ahead with amendments last year by the High Court and planning minister, Richard Wynne
Amendments to the initially approved plans include the number of turbines being reduced from 228 turbines to 215, as well as a maximum height limit to green infrastructure of 230 metres.
At this stage, construction on the Golden Plains project is anticipated to be completed by July 2024.
