Suzlon to set up Australia's largest wind farm

2 February 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

Pune-based Suzlon has entered the Australian market by bagging pact to design, procure, construct and commission a wind farm.

The wind farm will have 45 units of the S88 – 2.1 MW wind turbine under the pact bagged by Suzlon Energy Australia Pty. Ltd. (SEA), of Melbourne, a subsidiary of Suzlon Energy A/S of Aarhus, Denmark.

Suzlon got the contract from AGL (Australian Gas Light Company), for 95 megawatts of wind turbine capacity.

The wind farm will be installed at Hallett, 220 kilometers north of Adelaide, is expected to be commissioned in during 2007.

It would be the largest wind farm in Australia once complete.

In a company statement, Dan Kofoed Hansen, the CEO of SEA said, “This is an exciting day for Suzlon, and one that we’ve worked hard to reach in Australia”.

Tulsi Tanti, CEO and Chairman of Suzlon Energy Limited, the parent firm of Suzlon, based in Pune, a city in Western Indian State of Maharashtra, said, “Suzlon is proudly continuing its expansion globally with its entrance into the Australian market with such a well-respected customer.”

“Suzlon Australia’s team has professional experience and history in EPC contracting, whilst our India-based group has extensive experience in successfully providing total wind farm solutions. I believe the Suzlon group’s combined background knowledge and expertise is set to deliver an outstanding wind power plant for AGL,” Tulsi said in the statement.

Suzlon is expected to install 45 units of its S88 – 2.1 megawatt wind turbine for AGL on the Brown Hill Range, Hallett. AGL, headquartered in Sydney, is a major retailer of natural gas and electricity in Australia.

It may be recalled that AGL had recently purchased Southern Hydro, which has renewable energy assets consisting of hydro power stations and an existing wind farm, with total generating capacity of 736 megawatts.

Suzlon will also provide five years maintenance and service on all wind turbines, under the pact with AGL. Suzlon Energy Limited of Pune will supply the S88 wind turbines for the AGL wind farm.