Octopus Australia Expands Wind Energy Portfolio with 1GW Merino Wind Farm

Octopus Australia has announced the acquisition of 28,000 hectares of land near Deniliquin, NSW, for the development of the 1GW Merino Wind Farm. This new project adds to their existing 400MW Saltbush Wind Farm, bringing their total landholding in the South-West NSW Renewable Energy Zone (SW-NSW REZ) to 35,000 hectares.

The $3.5 billion Merino Wind Farm, alongside the Saltbush Wind Farm, is part of Octopus Australia’s strategy to generate over 1.5GW of renewable energy. These projects will be bolstered by large-scale solar and battery storage, providing reliable renewable energy for the region. The additional land also offers strategic advantages for connecting to key transmission lines and participating in future Access Rights Tenders.

This expansion aligns with the Australian Government’s goal to position the country as a renewable energy superpower, as outlined in the 2024-25 Federal Budget. Large-scale wind projects like Merino Wind Farm are crucial for achieving net zero emissions and driving the renewable energy transition.

Octopus Australia emphasizes their commitment to community engagement, working closely with local landowners, neighbors, and traditional custodians to ensure the projects benefit the region sustainably.

The announcement reinforces Octopus Australia’s growing renewables portfolio, now valued at over $11 billion. This includes upcoming projects such as the Fulham Solar Farm and Battery and the Blind Creek Solar Farm and Battery, set to begin construction later this year.

“The acquisition marks a major milestone in Octopus Australia’s strategy to build a portfolio of energy assets which model what a future clean energy generation base will look like in Australia,” said Darren Brown, Co-Managing Director of Octopus Australia. “These cornerstone wind assets, supplemented with our storage and solar developments, are designed to offer unique and differentiated Power Purchase Agreement products to energy customers and sustainable value to investors.”