Work is underway to build Victoria’s latest wind farm, including a Victorian-first underground transmission line which will set new best-practice for connecting clean energy projects to the national grid.

The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio visited the site south of Mortlake today to announce that construction has commenced on the $275 million, 35-turbine Mortlake South Wind Farm being built by ACCIONA.

The project will create over 90 new jobs during construction, 34 ongoing jobs and will generate enough clean energy to power 115,000 homes each year.

In another win for renewable energy in Victoria, the wind turbine supplier for the project intends to establish a ‘Nordex Regional Hub’ in Victoria which will service Australian, New Zealand and South East Asian markets – creating 20 jobs in metropolitan and regional areas.

ACCIONA will also build an underground transmission line for the wind farm, demonstrating its commitment to working closely with communities to deliver tailored local solutions.

The underground transmission route will be finalised based on environmental, cultural heritage and engineering considerations aimed at minimising the impact of the wind farm’s construction and ongoing presence – a planning permit will be required for the new power line.

ACCIONA is supporting local Portland-based company Keppel Prince Engineering by providing advance orders for the purchase of turbine towers for the project.

The Mortlake South Wind Farm is supported by the Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target reverse auction and was one of six successful applicants in last year’s auction.

The Government is increasing Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target to 50 per cent by 2030 – putting more clean energy into the grid, increasing investment and driving down energy prices.

In 2017-18, renewable energy generation accounted for 18.3 per cent of total energy generated in Victoria, up from 11.8 per cent in 2014-15.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“This wind farm will create local jobs, reduce greenhouse emissions and generate enough electricity to power more than 115,000 homes — boosting energy supply and bringing down prices.”

“Our energy targets have been the catalyst for unprecedented renewable energy investment and jobs growth in regional Victoria.”