Wind power in Australia: Vestas wind turbines for a 20 MW wind farm

In Australia, Vestas installed the first wind turbine in 1993, and has installed around 50 percent of all wind turbines since then. Vestas has received a 19.8 MW order for six of its V117-3.3 MW wind turbines for the Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm in Australia. 

The order has been placed by Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm Pty. Ltd., which is owned by Eurus Energy, Windlab, and local community shareholders.  The order includes a full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract as well as a long term service agreement.

Located in the state of Victoria, the Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm is one of only three successful projects under the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government wind auction process awarded earlier this year, and the first to achieve financial close.

Gerard Carew, Vestas’ Vice President of Sales in the Asia Pacific region said the order was significant for Vestas and the Australian wind industry as a whole.  “We are very pleased to be working with the Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm partners, and we thank them for their trust in Vestas to deliver this project, which will be the first Australian installation of our V117-3.3 MW turbines.  This project is further proof that when technology advancements combine with effective government policy the cost of renewable energy will continue to decline”.

Windlab’s Chief Executive, Roger Price, commented “The Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm partners are pleased to be working with Vestas to deliver the first new project resulting from the ACT wind auction process.  Vestas’ track record and performance in the Australian market were key factors in Windlab and Eurus Energy selecting them to construct and maintain the wind farm”.

Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm is scheduled for completion in March 2016 and once operational will produce enough energy to power 14,000 homes. During the construction phase, the project will employ more than 70 people, greatly benefiting the local community.