Construction Nears on $350 Million Boco Rock Windfarm in Australia

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--The Downer-GE Consortium, which was formed by General Electric (NYSE:GE) (GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Downer Group Limited (New South Wales, Australia), was awarded the contract to supply turbines for and build the $350 million Boco Rock Windfarm in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Downer Group was awarded a $100 million contract to deliver the first phase of the 113-megawatt (MW) Boco Rock Windfarm. The windfarm was proposed by Wind Prospect Group Limited (South Australia, Australia) and Continental Wind Partners (CWP) (London, England) in a joint venture alliance. The project will be located near Bombala, 10 kilometres (km) southwest of Nimmitabel. It has a potential future expansion of up to 121 turbines.

According to the contract, Downer Group will perform full engineering, procurement and construction for Stage I of the project. GE will supply and commission 58 wind turbine generators of 1.7 MW each, and nine of 1.6 MW each, for the windfarm.

Stage I of the project will comprise 67 turbines spread over 13 properties across Nimmitabel. Upon completion, the windfarm will generate renewable power for about 40,000 homes across NSW and offset approximately 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

As part of the contract, Downer EDI will construct a 25-kilometre transmission line, rated at 132 kilovolts, to connect the sites to lines owned by Country Energy.

Downer-GE says the final design and engineering is under way, with power delivery expected during the first half of 2015.

In addition to Boco Rock, Downer-GE also completed Collgar Windfarm in Western Australia, Lake Bonney Windfarm in South Australia and Waubra Windfarm in Victoria.

Downer Group is working with Meridian Energy Australia Pty Limited (NSW) on Mt. Mercer Windfarm in Victoria, which is under construction. Downer Group is also working with CBD Energy Limited (NSW) on building the 106.8-MW Taralga windfarm, due to start construction in the next few months.

Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (Bangkok, Thailand) took full ownership of the project from CWP, with CWP retaining the rights to manage the windfarm.

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