Vic wind farm to boost ACT's renewable electricity

The ACT Government has announced that the Berrybank Stage 2 wind farm, located in Victoria’s Western Plains, is now in operation.

Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reductions Shane Rattenbury said this milestone would bolster the ACT’s commitment to 100% renewable electricity.

“Berrybank 2 is one of 13 large-scale renewable energy generators that are spread across the country, providing the ACT with zero-emissions energy at low prices now and into the future,” Rattenbury said.

“The wind farm has a total capacity of 109 MW from 26 wind turbines, which will generate 390 GWh of clean energy per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 71,000 households.

“As we electrify Canberra and phase out fossil gas, and as Canberra’s population grows, we will need additional electricity supply. The Berrybank wind farm will boost our renewable electricity supply and help power an all-electric Canberra.

“The price stability that the ACT is now seeing is the result of the good decisions we made over a decade ago to implement a 100% renewable electricity target, further proving that climate action is both achievable and affordable.”

These policy decisions had largely protected the ACT community from the extreme price volatility in wholesale electricity prices that other jurisdictions are facing, Rattenbury said.

“Following Round 5 of the ACT’s Renewables Reverse Auction, the ACT Government entered into an agreement with Global Power Generation (GPG) for their Berrybank 2 wind farm, to supply the ACT with renewable electricity.

“The ACT’s renewable electricity auctions have helped bring in more than $500 million worth of investment into the region, making Canberra a centre for high-skilled renewable sector jobs,” Rattenbury said.

“The addition of the Berrybank 2 wind farm will ensure Canberra’s continued access to affordable and reliable zero-emissions energy,” he concluded.

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