Wimmera windfall
Wimmera industry and development will enter a new era of diversity on the back of a world-first multi million-dollar value-adding venture at Bulgana near Great Western.
A project combining energy generation from wind turbines, power storage from a grid-scale battery and an intense greenhouse agribusiness will create 600 jobs.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Energy Minister Lily D’ambrosio, Northern Grampians Shire Council and industry representatives, other guests and a large media contingent at the site to announce the project.
Sustainable energy producer Neoen Australia, agribusiness Nectar Farms and the State Government have signed a three-way memorandum of understanding, representing a $565-million development.
The deal involves establishing a Bulgana Green Power Hub alongside a 30-hectare expansion of Nectar Farms’ greenhouse project at Stawell in staged development during the next two years.
Predictions are that as well as creating 600 positions, the project will also support 930 indirect jobs.
Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez and Nectar Farms chief executive Stephen Sasse were among dignitaries at the announcement.
The deal guarantees Nectar Farms 10 percent of the new power hub’s energy with the remaining 90 percent fed directly to the electricity grid.
Delighted Northern Grampians mayor Tony Driscoll said the project represented a major regional win for Wimmera development.
“We’re not just talking about the Northern Grampians Shire being a winner – the region as a whole is going to benefit,” he said.
“This is a global first, a game-changer. If we had failed to negotiate this agreement between Neoen and the State Government, future expansion of Nectar Farms and subsequent jobs would have been lost to the shire and Victoria.
“By ensuring the Nectar Farms greenhouses have a reliable, competitive power supply, the company can grow its business here.”
Nectar Farms started building 10 hectares of greenhouses after securing a parcel of land from Stawell Gold Mines earlier this year. But expensive and insecure energy supply halted plans for expansion.
“What Nectar Farms needed was surety of supply at a competitive price,” Cr Driscoll said. “This agreement gives them that.” As part of the memorandum, the State Government, Neoen Australia and Nectar Farms have agreed to work on terms for government support for the Bulgana Green Power Hub.
Neoen plans for a 63-turbine windfarm now include a ground-breaking lithium-ion battery with storage capacity of 20 megawatts, or 34 megawatt hours. The battery will provide sustainable, baseload-equivalent power to Nectar Farms.
Mr Woitiez confirmed the project was the first of its type globally and demonstrated Australia’s capacity and capability to develop cuttingedge renewable-energy technology on an industrial scale.
“By working with the State Government we are able to significantly contribute to the food and fibre sector by providing stable renewable power and energy to an intensive agriculture business,” he said.
Neoen will work with Siemensgamesa on the project.
Nectar Farms is an Australianowned agribusiness dedicated to ‘smart farming’ with a focus on glasshouses, hydroponics and highwire cultivation using cutting-edge technology.
It aims to produce fruit and vegetables to meet both domestic and export market demand and has an exclusive agreement to supply Costa Group, the largest fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Australia.
Nectar Farms had originally considered looking elsewhere for expansion before Northern Grampians Shire Council stepped in to broker discussions between the agribusiness and Neoen Australia.
Mr Sasse said Nectar Farms would buy a parcel of land next to the wind farm for the construction of the greenhouses.
“Due to constraints, ability to expand at our existing Stawell site was not viable,” he said.
“We were examining a number of interstate and overseas options because we needed to significantly grow our business. Being able to source energy behind the meter directly from Neoen made Stawell the most viable option.
“Securing a sustainable and secure energy supply will allow us to significantly expand production capacity and bring much needed jobs to the Stawell region.”
Premier Andrews said the State Government would back the project through its Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
“This project will make Stawell Nectar Farms the world’s first protected crop farm completely powered by renewable energy,” he said.
“It’s great for our environment and great for Victoria.”
Wimmera Development Association’s Mark Fletcher said the project showed off the benefits of a collaborative approach to development.
“It is also an example of how the region is perfectly placed to exploit renewable energy opportunities,” he said.