Australia prepares renewable corridor

The French multinational Neoen, one of the leading companies in the clean energy sector in Australia, obtained authorization to develop the first phase of a renewable energy corridor in Goyder.

The project has approval for the development of 1,200 megawatts (MW) of wind energy capacity, 600 MW of solar energy and 900 MW of battery storage capacity, making it the largest renewable energy project in Australia.

Xavier Barbaro, CEO of the company, described it as the most ambitious project in Neoen's portfolio.

"Buoyed by now having 5.4 Gigawatts (GW) of assets in operation or under construction, we are more confident than ever in our ability to reach our target of 10 GW by 2025," Barbaro said.

Neoen has just begun construction of the initial 412 MW wind farm, Goyder South Stage 1, which is due to be completed in 2024 and will connect to the Robertstown substation.

The next phases of the project will be able to be developed with the new 800 MW transmission line linking South Australia to New South Wales. The EnergyConnect project is scheduled for commissioning in 2023 and is expected to be completed by 2025.

The transmission line will enable Australia to become an exporter of renewable energy, and the state is likely to be running on 100 percent renewables by 2030, as planned.