Page 1178 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2016
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signing, financial close and a year after financial close to support the ACT’s distributed storage projects.
It is very exciting to see the 90 per cent renewable energy target on track, completed on time with minimal pass-through costs to the Canberra community. The cost to householders remains just under $5 per household per week at the maximum point in 2020. As we know, this is well and truly offset by the government’s mandated energy efficiency programs, which are reaching tens and tens of thousands of Canberra homes.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Minister, can you inform the Assembly of the successful projects of the last wind energy auction?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Burch for the supplementary. Yes, there were two winners from the last wind energy auction. The first was the Hornsdale stage 2 wind farm, which is a 100-megawatt wind farm developed by the French renewable energy company Neoen International in partnership with the Australian company Megawatt Capital Investments. The second winner was the Sapphire wind farm, also 100 megawatts, developed by CWP Renewables in northern New South Wales.
Both of these projects are delivering significant local economic investment outcomes for our city. We are seeing, for example, that Neoen is continuing its commitment to locate its business development capability here in the ACT. We look forward to them soon joining the renewable energy precinct which is forming between the city and the ANU. CWP, the developers of the Sapphire wind farm, are also making significant commitments when it comes to the relocation of some of their operations to the ACT. These and many more local economic benefits will accrue from the government’s most recent wind auction.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hinder.
MR HINDER: Minister, can you outline for the Assembly the local economic benefits these projects will create for the ACT?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hinder for the supplementary. Yes, we are seeing significant investment. As I have said, we have secured more than $400 million worth of investment into the ACT economy from the wind and solar auctions that have been undertaken to date. I mentioned that Neoen and Megawatt Capital are providing a $10.8 million investment package for the city, which includes: a $1 million renewable energy and battery storage training fund to build the ACT’s capacity to provide world-class trades training services to these rapidly developing industries; $6.5 million to help support research and innovation and international outreach to local and inbound small and medium enterprises through the development of our renewable energy strategy; and $2.7 million in funding for the energy innovation precinct fund to provide practical assistance, such as grants and accommodation support, for innovative local, national and international businesses. Neoen has also committed to spending at least $800,000 on local contractors here in the city.
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