Construction is now underway on the $276 million Berrybank Wind Farm in Western Victoria - approximately 80 kilometres west of Geelong. The delivery of the 180MW wind farm is headed by Global Power Generation, a joint venture between Naturgy Energy Group and Kuwait Investment Authority.
“I’m proud to see the Ballarat region helping to lead the way in Victoria’s renewable energy future, with all the local jobs and economic prosperity that flows from it,” Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said.
The Berrybank Wind Farm is part of the State Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) which is aimed at developing more than 900MW of new clean energy to help drive down energy prices for locals.
Achieving the VRET target of 40 per cent by 2025 is expected to inject $7.2 billion in investments as well as create over 10,000 jobs for the region.
“Victoria is the renewable energy capital of our nation and thanks to this investment, we’ve put Western Victoria right at the centre - this is great for jobs and great for our State.
“Whether it’s the VRET or our Solar Homes Program, we’re driving down the energy costs for families, supporting local businesses and creating thousands of jobs,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Berrybank Wind Farm will be comprised of 43 turbines which will be produced and assembled in the country - a first in about a decade - at the new Vestas Renewable Energy Hub in Geelong, formerly a Ford factory.
The construction of the new wind farm will be supporting approximately 213 jobs together with 24 apprenticeships.
“This is an exciting next step in driving down energy prices, reducing carbon emissions and creating jobs as we work towards our renewable energy target of 50 cent by 2030,” Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said.
The Berrybank Wind Farm is anticipated to begin operations in late 2020.
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Source: Premier of Victoria; Renew Economy; Renewables Now; Inside Construction
