Sold to Australian independent profit-to-members superannuation fund Prime Super in December 2022, the acquisition adds to the fund’s renewable energy portfolio, part of a strategy to grow its number of climate-positive assets.
The wind farms have a combined energy output sufficient to power 13,500 households.
Ferguson in southwest Victoria has an installed capacity of 10.8 MW with three Vestas turbines, while Diapur in Victoria’s far-west is 7.4 MW with two Vestas turbines. Both wind farms have been operating since 2021.
BayWa r.e. continues to invest and reinvest in Australia and having established a leading team is now developing gigawatt-scale wind farms in New South Wales and Queensland.
Fleur Yaxley, Managing Director, BayWa r.e. Projects Australia said: “Thanks to some excellent work by the team, Ferguson and Diapur pack a giant punch with average capacity factors double the national average - that’s effectively two turbines for the price of one.”
“This sale releases capital to redeploy and grow our portfolio of much larger wind and battery developments in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
“Projects that will make a substantial contribution to accelerating Australia’s rapid transition to renewable energy.”
BayWa r.e. Projects Australia has recently announced the development of three larger-scale wind farm developments – Bullawah 1 GW, Kariboe 1 GW, and Wimmera Plains Energy Facility 400 MW. With many more wind, solar and storage developments in the pipeline, the company is fast becoming a serious player in Australia’s energy transition.
Prime Super’s investment manager is PATRIZIA. Saji Anantakrishnan, Head of Infrastructure, Australia and Asia at PATRIZIA said: “With the need to decarbonize only accelerating, investments in renewable energy infrastructure continue to provide the stable, long-term income that is highly attractive for our institutional partners. The newly acquired Ferguson and Diapur wind farms are modern, high-quality assets that commenced operations in late 2021 and benefit from a strong wind resource.”
Daniel Gaefke, APAC Director, BayWa r.e. added: “The market potential in Australia is significant for BayWa r.e. Through our tailored solutions, we are able to cater to each states’ specific needs to meet their clean energy ambitions. Looking at Victoria, where the state is targeting 50 percent renewable energy by 2030, we hope to make a substantial contribution to the states’ rapid energy transition. The sales of our renewable energy projects will not only help drive our company’s growth but will also enable us to build on our current expertise to provide more renewable solutions for future energy needs.”
In Australia, BayWa r.e. has since 2016 delivered seven utility-scale wind and solar projects – four wind and three solar. Currently, the giant sister solar farms of 112 MW Karadoc and 106 MW Yatpool in Victoria, and the 20 MW Hughenden solar farm in Queensland remain owned by BayWa r.e.
As part of BayWa r.e. Projects Australia’s commitment to expanding the country’s clean energy output, the company also recently announced plans to expand its Standalone Power Systems (SPS) offering to more regions in Western Australia, providing clean energy storage to generate off-the-grid electricity.
