New Zealand's TrustPower starts constructing South Australian wind farm

Renewable energy generation up to 370MW.

That's what Snowtown as a region could boast of upon completion of Snowtown II wind farm.

New Zealand's TrustPower and Siemens Australia have started constructing the $439 million wind farm.

The project is a 90-turbine expansion of the existing Snowtown wind farm located on the Barunga and Hummocks ranges west of Snowtown in the Mid North of South Australia.

It is capable of generating a further 270MW of renewable power for the region and is expected to be completed and fully operational by 2014.

Electricity company TrustPower, which built Snowtown I in 2008, appointed Siemens as its turn-key supplier for Snowtown II in July 2012.

"Snowtown is a perfect location for renewable wind generation. From the time we first considered the Snowtown site we have been delighted with the willingness of landowners, the community and local authorities to work with TrustPower to make this investment in the state of South Australia possible," said TrustPower chief executive Vince Hawksworth

Siemens is responsible for installing gearless drive turbines on the site, including the procurement, supply and engineering of substations, switchgear and transformers.

"The rotor blades are superior - cast in one-piece they are structurally and aerodynamically best suited for strong wind conditions," said Siemens Australia CEO and managing director Jeff Connolly.

He says the project takes renewable energy generation in the country to "the next level".

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