• Neoen has commenced construction of its 179 MW Narrogin Wind Farm in Western Australia
• Notices to proceed were provided to Envision Energy and to a consortium of UGL and CPB Contractors
• Neoen holds a long-term PPA with Synergy, covering 100% of Narrogin Wind Farm’s output
• Neoen’s capacity in Western Australia now totals 903 MW in operation or under construction, representing an investment of over AU$2 billion

Neoen, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, has commenced construction of its 179 MW Narrogin Wind Farm after signing a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Synergy for 100% of its generation at the point of connection (168 MW). Synergy is Western Australia’s (WA) largest energy retailer and is owned by the State Government. The PPA will enable Synergy to further support WA in its target of achieving 82% renewables in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) by 2030. The project has also been awarded a Capacity Investment Scheme Agreement by the Australian Government. It is Neoen’s fourth major project and first wind farm in WA.

Neoen has provided notices to proceed to turbine manufacturer Envision Energy, and to a consortium of UGL and CPB Contractors (members of the CIMIC Group) for the balance of plant. Located on the country of the Wilman Noongar people near the towns of Narrogin and Williams (200 km southeast of Perth), the wind farm will consist of 23 EN182-7.8 MW turbines and connect into the SWIS network via Western Power’s existing 220 kV transmission line. The project is expected to generate enough clean energy to meet about 3% of the annual energy demand in the SWIS, which is equivalent to powering nearly 100,000 Western Australian homes every year.

Narrogin Wind Farm is expected to create over 250 jobs during construction and around 15 permanent roles during operations. Neoen has entered into an innovative agreement with the Shire of Narrogin to prioritise investment in the local housing and services sector and will work together with the Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation to deliver meaningful First Nations outcomes. Once Narrogin Wind Farm is operational, it will deliver a neighbour benefit scheme and an annual community benefit-sharing program to support legacy initiatives in WA’s Wheatbelt region.

In under four years, Neoen has brought 903 MW of renewable energy & storage capacity to WA, representing over AU$2 billion of investment in the State’s energy transition. Narrogin Wind Farm will complement the company’s existing 724 MW / 3.1 GWh storage portfolio comprising Collie Battery (two stages, both in operation) and Muchea Battery (under construction).

Jean-Christophe Cheylus, Neoen’s Regional CEO for Australia Pacific, said: “We are grateful for the trust that Synergy and the Government of Western Australia have placed in us, and we are delighted to be joining hands with Envision, UGL and CPB Contractors to build Neoen’s first wind farm on the west coast. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the project’s journey to date – especially our host landowners, the Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation and the wider community. Together, we look forward to powering Western Australia’s future with clean & reliable energy.”

Hon Josh Wilson, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, remarked: “The start of construction of Neoen’s Narrogin Wind Farm is a major step forward for Western Australia’s clean energy future. Awarded a Capacity Scheme Investment Agreement by the Australian Government, this project will help deliver cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy while creating jobs and investment in the Wheatbelt and supporting the State’s transition from coal-fired power. Narrogin Wind Farm is one of the projects that will help power more Western Australian homes and strengthen energy security, while reducing emissions and putting downward pressure on power prices.”

Xavier Barbaro, Neoen’s Group CEO, concluded: “I would like to congratulate the team on this impressive achievement. Neoen has experienced rapid growth in Western Australia in recent years with storage and we’re excited to be adding wind generation to the mix. This milestone also means Neoen has now developed and delivered more than 10 GW of capacity globally.  We intend to further accelerate our growth and our contribution to the energy transition with the aim of doubling our impact to 20 GW by 2030.”