GE Renewable Energy announced an agreement with Global Power Generation Australia (GPG) to supply and install 28 3.4-MW wind turbines at one of Australia’s largest renewable developments, the 91-MW Crookwell 2 Wind Farm near Goulburn. Once operational, the wind farm will produce an excess of 300,000 MWh during the average year.

Due to be completed in September 2018, Crookwell 2 will will be the first wind farm in Australia for GPG, which is aiming to secure additional long-term offtake agreements for other large renewable projects included in GPG Australia’s pipeline.

“We are thrilled to be working alongside GE and local contractors on a project that will significantly contribute to the energy transition underway in the Australian Capital Territory and throughout Australia,” said GPG CEO Lluis Noguera. “This is the first milestone for Global Power Generation in Australia. We have a pipeline of projects that offer competitive energy prices to retailers, private customers, and public actions, and some of them are already ready to be built.”

Added Geoff Culbert, president and CEO of GE Australia, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea, “GE will be delivering the very best technology to this project, which will benefit the environment as well as the local economy and community. Working together with Global Power Generation Australia, we are thrilled to play an active part in a project that will directly support 80 construction jobs and 14 ongoing operational jobs in the local region.”

Local sheep farmer Charlie Prell, whose property Gundowringa will host some of the 28 turbines, says the wind farm is a “game changer” for him and other landowners. “It gives you the financial flexibility to change your stocking rate, to spell pastures, to manage water courses much more sustainably and environmentally because you’ve got the passive income stream and you’re not reliant on the income from the stock, which is totally related to the weather conditions and the pasture conditions,” he said.