Sydney, January 31:

Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) announced today that it would build the country’s largest wind farm as part of efforts to meet its legal obligation to invest in renewable energy.

AGL, Australia’s biggest energy retailer, said the 95 megawatt (MW) facility would cost $177 million and use 45 wind turbines over an area of 14 square km near the town of Hallett in South Australia. The wind farm will be adjacent to an existing 180 MW gas-fired peaking power plant operated by AGL and is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2007. The wind turbines will be integrated with the gas-fired power station by using existing infrastructure, ensuring continuous operation during periods of high electricity demand.

AGL chief executive Greg Martin said the project would help the company meet its commitment to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sou-rces. It will also contribute to AGL’s obligations under the federal government’s mandatory renewable energy target scheme. Construction of the wind farm is expected to start in September 2006.

Australia’s largest wind farm now is a 91 MW facility at Wattle Point in South Australia.