ENGIE takes up option to develop Hills of Gold Wind Farm

ENGIE ANZ will be responsible for developing and operating the $750 million facility, after completing the acquisition of project entity, Wind Energy Partners Pty Ltd. ENGIE ANZ’s General Manager of Asset Development, Mr Andrew Kerley, said the Hills of Gold Wind Farm would be built with the backing of ENGIE’s local and global expertise in renewable energy.

“The Hills of Gold Wind Farm is a quality project that adds renewable energy to the national grid, while also creating local economic activity during construction and operation of the 25-year lifespan of the asset. We’re looking forward to the opportunity of building the Hills of Gold Wind Farm and to working with the local community to unlock the benefits of renewable energy development.”

Key project statistics:

• More than 215 direct jobs and about 430 indirect jobs expected during construction phase, starting in early 2022.
• About 30 permanent jobs and 50 indirect jobs when operational, including opportunities to develop new skills in the region within the growing renewable energy industry.
• Planned upgrades to local roads and waterway crossings.
• Up to 70 wind turbines, each with a generating capacity of up to 6MW per unit.
• A 33kV/330kV onsite substation connecting to the existing 330kV TransGrid Liddell to Tamworth overhead transmission line network via a dedicated transmission line from the wind farm.
• $370 million of economic activity during construction.

Hills of Gold Community Enhancement Fund to be established, with a commitment of $2,500 per turbine per year installed and operating, expected over a period of at least 25 years.

ENGIE is the largest independent power producer in the world and has had a presence in Australia for more than 20 years through its retail and multi-technical services businesses and 1,200 MW of low-carbon power stations. ENGIE developed and commissioned the Willogoleche Wind farm in 2019, which added to its growing portfolio of renewable energy assets and developments.

ENGIE has a proud history of making material contributions to the communities in and around its assets and projects, from the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, to Kwinana in Western Australia.