GE, in collaboration with AGL Energy and civil engineering construction company, CATCON, announced a major contract to develop and build the $450 million Silverton Wind Farm, in what will be the sixth largest wind farm in Australia.

The Silverton Wind Farm is the first greenfield development under the Powering Australian Renewables Fund (PARF), a partnership between AGL, QIC and Future Fund for the development of approximately 1,000-MW of large-scale renewable energy projects.

The 58 GE 3.4-MW wind turbines will be the largest in Australia, with rotors spanning 130 meters. Once operational the wind farm will generate approximately 780,000 MWh of energy annually, enough to power the equivalent of more than 137,000 average Australian homes.

It is estimated that the project, located in western New South Wales, could generate up to 150 jobs during peak construction, many of which will be sourced from the local community.

“We look forward to working with GE and CATCON in developing the Silverton Wind Farm on behalf of PARF. The fund was established to kick start growth in renewable generation in Australia, and Silverton is proof of this,” said AGL Managing Director & CEO, Andy Vesey. “However as we transition to a low carbon economy we also have to consider further policy changes to facilitate this pathway.”

The renewable energy produced by the Silverton Wind Farm will reduce Australia’s CO2 emissions by 655,000 tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking 192,000 cars off the road each year. The Silverton Wind Farm will be located in the Barrier Ranges of NSW, with its south-western boundary about five kilometers north of Silverton and approximately 25 km north-west of Broken Hill. The placement of turbines will be located over the Mundi Mundi Range in the southern portion of he site and Mount Robe Range in the northern portion of the site.

The wind farm is expected to be fully operational by mid-2018.