TagEnergy, an Australian renewable energy company, has announced that it has begun construction on the first stage of the 1.3GW Golden Plains wind farm in Victoria, Australia. The project will have a capacity of 756MW and will require an investment of A$2bn ($1.34bn). The wind farm, which is being built near Rokewood, will feature 215 turbines with a capacity of almost 6MW each and a 300MW battery storage facility. Upon completion, it is expected to generate over 4,000GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power over 750,000 households.
According to TagEnergy, the project will create 700 jobs during construction and 72 ongoing jobs. Victoria Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D'Ambrosio, said that the project was “another example of how Victoria's ambitious renewable energy policies are creating jobs and driving the renewables sector.”
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The Golden Plains wind farm is expected to eliminate over 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to 3% of the total greenhouse emissions of Victoria. The project will be completed in two stages, with the second stage having a capacity of 576MW and a total investment of over A$3bn ($2bn).
Andrew Riggs, Managing Partner of TagEnergy Australia, said that the start of construction marked “another great milestone for this landmark project that will have a profound impact on the shift to clean energy in Victoria and beyond.”
In November 2022, TagEnergy awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Vestas for the first stage of the wind farm. Ausnet Services holds a contract for the grid connection works at the project. Ingka Investments has also agreed to acquire a 15% stake in the Golden Plains wind farm.
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The Golden Plains wind farm is a significant step towards achieving Victoria's renewable energy targets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As Lily D'Ambrosio stated, “Golden Plains wind farm is creating hundreds of local jobs and once complete is capable of generating 9% of Victoria's total electricity demand.” With the increasing demand for clean energy, the project will play a vital role in accelerating the transition to a sustainable future.
