The Diplomat
The Spanish infrastructure and renewable energy company Acciona is celebrating 20 years of presence in Australia, a country where it recently began construction of the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.
Acciona’s activity in Australia began in 2002 with renewable energy projects, “offering its innovative solutions and showing great commitment to Australia’s energy transition through the generation of clean and affordable energy for all,” according to the Spain-Australia Council Foundation.
Australia’s first project was the Cathedral Rocks wind farm in South Australia. Since then, it has commissioned five solar farms and built another farm for another company. Its power generation capacity now exceeds 600 MW in the country. Since 2007, the company has also continued to work on projects to ensure access to water and improve transportation and mobility infrastructure in cities.
The company recently began construction of the MacIntyre wind farm. With 1,026 MW and the capacity to supply 700,000 homes, this project will be the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere. The project, in which it has invested 1.3 billion euros, will be completed in 2024 due to a project acceleration plan that will make up for the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated supply difficulties, according to the company.
In addition, Acciona is a founding member and sponsor of the European Australian Business Council and is also a member of the Spanish-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Following its solid experience in Australia, Acciona has entered the New Zealand market with the award of a public-private partnership (PPP) contract to design, build, finance, manage and maintain the Puhoi-Warkworth highway for 25 years, the company said. The 18.5 km extension of the Northern Motorway will contribute to the economic growth of the Northland region and provide a more reliable and safer transport link to the cities of Auckland, Waikato and Tauranga.
