South Australia‘s Hornsdale Wind Farm has been awarded a contract to deliver an additional 100 megawatt in power to the Australian Capital Territory, which will help secure up to 250 construction jobs in the State’s Mid North.

Developed by leading French renewables company Neoen, in partnership with Megawatt Capital Investments, Hornsdale is the first successful project in the Australian Capital Territory Government’s second large-scale wind reverse-auction process.

Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith said under the reverse auction, companies were invited to put forward bids to the Australian Capital Territory Government detailing how they could generate the greatest amount of renewable energy at the least price.

“Hornsdale was awarded its first contract to deliver 100 megawatt to the Australian Capital Territory in February this year,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“In a great show of faith in the company by the Australian Capital Territory Government, the wind farm has now secured an additional 100 megawatt contract.

“Hornsdale has been able to achieve Australia’s lowest known contract price for renewables at $77 per megawatt hour.

“Neoen expects the Hornsdale project to provide enough power for 56,000 Canberra homes and provide 13 per cent of the Australian Capital Territory’s projected electricity demand in 2020.

“This year the State Government announced Neoen’s project had the go-ahead for its, 270 megawatt wind farm which would create up to 250 construction jobs and 10 operational jobs.

“Having 200 of the 270 megawatts now allocated means that construction jobs will be secured for the next three years over stages 1 and 2 of the wind farm build, which is great news for the Mid North region.

“Construction is currently underway on Stage 1 with commissioning expected to occur sometime in 2017.”

Mr Hamilton-Smith said the Hornsdale project reinforces South Australia’s reputation as the nation’s leader in wind energy investment having attracted around 40 per cent of Australia’s installed capacity.

“South Australia aims to be a low-carbon electricity powerhouse and a net exporter of renewable energy in the future,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“Through the Government’s A low carbon investment plan for South Australia, our goal is to achieve $10 billion investment in low carbon energy generation by 2025 and 50 per cent of electricity production by renewable energy by 2025.

“Hornsdale will obviously be a key contributor to achieving these key targets and is a great example of the benefits of foreign direct investment into our State.”

Mr Hamilton-Smith said the State Government continues to provide case management support for Neoen’s investments in South Australia through the newly established Investment Attraction Agency.

The State Government agency oversees a 15 million dollar investment fund, which is available to companies looking to expand their operations or to establish a presence in South Australia, which will lead to new job opportunities.