Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been commissioned to build a wind complex in Australia, which will combine the installation of a wind farm with 56 of the firm's SG 3.4-132 turbines with a battery energy storage system.
Under the terms of the contract entered into with Neoen, Siemens Gamesa will build the entire complex on an EPC basis and then maintain it for 25 years. Located in the Australian town of Stawell, in the state of Victoria, this hybrid facility - known as the Bulgana Green Energy Hub - will comprise a 194MW wind farm as well as a 20MW / 34 MWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. EPC construction is set to begin right away and the commissioning of the facility is expected by August 2019. This complex has already secured two power purchase agreements (PPAs): one with the government of the state of Victoria for the next 15 years; and the other with the Australian agribusiness Nectar Farms -who will use LED light technology to grow tomatoes in glasshouses- for the next 10 years. Nectar Farms will also receive the power stored in the batteries during low wind periods.