Decmil lands contract for 218MW Ryan Corner wind farm in Victoria

Global Power Generation’s 218MW Ryan Corner wind farm is set for construction near Port Fairy in Victoria after a joint venture between Decmil and RJE Global won a key contract for the project.

The ASX-listed Decmil Group said on Wednesday that a $71 million “balance of plant” contract had been awarded to a joint venture between Decmil and RJE Global, including the design and construction of some of the key components of the 52-turbine wind farm.

The 218MW, $A359 million Ryan Corner wind farm is planned for construction around 300km west of Melbourne, having gained development approval back in 2017 for no more than 56 turbines.

The project is being developed by Global Power Generation – a joint venture majority-owned by Spain-based Naturgy Energy Group – previously known as Union Fenosa.

In September of this year, the wind farm inked a deal with federal government-owned gen-tailer Snowy Hydro – a 15-year contract-for-difference for 75% of the energy produced by the wind farm.

In the wake of that deal, Naturgy confirmed that it was expecting to start operations on Ryan Corner in the second half of 2022. Decmil recently withdrew from full EPC contracting following a major dispute at the Sunraysia solar farm, and is now focused only on “balance of plant” contracts with wind and solar farms.

This contract involves design and construction of the wind turbine bases, access tracks, site cabling and a switch room.

“This award is testament to our proven track record in successfully delivering windfarm projects, following the successful electrification of the Warradarge and Yandin wind farms this fiscal year,” said Decmil CEO Dickie Dique on Wednesday.

“The contract also further strengthens our long-standing relationship with RJE, who worked with us as subcontractors for the Warradarge and Yandin projects,“ he said.

For Naturgy, Ryan Corner is he third renewables project being developed in Australia by via GPG, which is 25 per cent owned by the Kuwait Investment Authority. The JV is also behind the 96MW Crookwell 2 wind farm (in operation), and the 180MW Berrybank Stage-1 wind farm, which is nearing completion.