Epuron selling 3 wind projects to Origin Energy

Epuron, a unit of Hamburg, Germany's Conergy, announced today that it would sell three of its Australian wind developments to Origin Energy, Australia's No. 2 power retailer.

The three projects, all in New South Wales, have development consent to produce up to 30 megawatts of electricity each.

"The Epuron deal will see Origin build its own wind facilities for the first time, deepening integration in this area," said Karen Moses, COO  of Origin.

Origin reportedly paid between $10 million and $15 million for the wind projects. Origin also has an option for the development of a further 500 MW of Epuron sites.

Origin said it currently contracts approximately 180 MW of wind.

The Australian company expects to commission the Cullerin Range wind farm, west of Goulburn and comprised of 15 wind turbines, in 2009.

When fully operational, Origin said the Cullerin Range farm will save about 100,000 tonnes of carbon annually, providing enough renewable electricity to power 15,000 homes in the area.

The other two sites, Conroy's Gap and Snowy Plains, are in southern New South Wales.

In October, Epuron announced a 1 gigawatt wind farm project in Silverton, in western New South Wales (see Australia to get 1GW wind farm). Work on that $1.8 billion project is set to begin in 2009.

The Australian government has set a goal of producing 20 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020.

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