Acciona Seeks Power Purchase Agreement for Australian Windfarms

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--The Mortlake windfarm project, proposed by Acciona Australia (Melbourne, Victoria), is awaiting a secure power purchase agreement (PPA) after hitting a milestone early this year, when the Victorian government approved a development plan amid criticism from nearby residents and the Moyne Shire. The Mortlake windfarm is 51-turbine project with a generating capacity of 76.5 megawatts (MW). It has an estimated $200 million investment value.

Acciona is negotiating a PPA and securing finance for the project, which will be built using 1.5-MW wind turbines at Mortlake. The company finished early work in September 2013, in order to meet the project's deadline starting date. Acciona awarded the contract to excavation firm Earth & Water Technologies (Melbourne, Australia), which finished the car park facility on site.

Acciona expects to commence construction on a concrete batching plant, a network of internal lanes, and turbine foundations by the end of 2014. Actual construction and turbine installation will commence by the first quarter of 2015 and will take between 12 and 18 months. Acciona plans to complete the construction by end of 2016, before the planning permit for the project expires.

Acciona is also at work on the 189-MW Mount Gellibrand windfarm, which is to be built in Warncoort, east of Colac in Victoria. The project originally was proposed by German company Pro Ventum International, which obtained planning approval for 116 turbines in September 2006. The project later changed hands from Pro Ventum to Wind Hydrogen Limited (ASX:WHN) (Perth, Australia); in 2008, it was re-sold to Acciona Energy. Acciona resubmitted the planning proposal to the committee in June 2011, for 63 turbines and a capacity of 189 MW.

Mount Gellibrand received final planning approval in February 2012. Minor construction was completed during May and June 2013, while actual construction was held up due to slow market conditions. Acciona has yet to seek a PPA for the project. Acciona's managing director, Andrew Thomson, says market conditions have been slow over the past years, but he expects both projects will be operational in the next five years.

Acciona, a Spanish company, is known for civil engineering, construction and infrastructure services.

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