Construction start for AU$439m TrustPower Snowtown II

Construction start for AU$439m TrustPower Snowtown II wind farm

The turning of the first sod for South Australia’s largest wind farm has signalled the start of construction for Snowtown Stage 11, a 90 turbine expansion of TrustPower’s existing Snowtown wind farm, capable of generating a further 270 megawatts of renewable power for South Australia.

In July, New Zealand’s TrustPower, which built Snowtown I in 2008, appointed Siemens as its turn-key supplier for Snowtown II., With the build of the new Snowtown II wind farm, Snowtown as a region will boast a combined renewable energy generation total of up to 370 megawatts, and the entire Snowtown wind farm will supply 10% of South Australia’s electricity needs.

The project is due to be completed and fully operational by the end of 2014.

“Snowtown is a perfect location for renewable wind generation. From the time we first considered the Snowtown site we have been delighted with the willingness of landowners, the community and local authorities to work with TrustPower to make this investment in the state of South Australia possible,” says Vince Hawksworth, Chief Executive of TrustPower.

Siemens, a global provider of technology for a sustainable future, will be installing leading-edge gearless drive turbines on the site, including the procurement, supply and engineering of substations, switchgear and transformers to connect the wind farm to the grid.

“This wind farm takes renewable energy generation to a new level, the rotor blades have a revolutionary design – cast in one-piece they are aerodynamically perfect for strong wind conditions. This, combined with the world’s most efficient gearless direct-drive wind technology, will rank this wind farm amongst one of, if not the, most efficient and technically-advanced wind farms in Australia,” says Jeff Connolly, CEO and Managing Director of Siemens Australia Ltd.

South Australia is continuing to lead the way in the generation of renewable energy, with South Australia exceeding the 20 per cent renewable energy target and increasing its own renewable energy target to 33 per cent.

“Globally, we are seeing this trend towards renewable energy change the way energy is consumed and supplied. This will ultimately change the way we design and sustainably manage our grid in the future,” says Connolly.

The first sod was turned on the site in a ceremony led by the South Australian Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon Russell Wortley, representing Premier Jay Weatherill.

WHAT: A sod turning ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Snowtown 11 Wind Farm.

WHERE: At a site 7km north-east of Snowtown, a rural town some 170km north of Adelaide.

WHO: The event was attended by the Danish Ambassador to Australia the Hon Børge Petersen; the South Australian Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon Russell Wortley; Wakefield Council Mayor James Maitland; local land owners and representatives of community organisations.

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