Renewable energy producer Neoen will start works on its Bulgana Green Power Hub next month.

The hub will be an integrated wind farm and battery storage hub and the company’s largest single-stage project in Australia.

Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez said early preparation works for the project have started, with full construction to kick off in April.

He said the wind farm would be finished by August 2019.

“Upon completion, the Bulgana Green Power Hub will generate more than 740,000 megawatt hours of energy a year,” he said.

“We are excited to finally break ground on the hub and look forward to delivering affordable and sustainable energy to Victoria.”

Mr Woitiez said the project would not only create a substantial number of jobs but also stimulate healthy economic activity in the region.

Northern Grampians Shire councillor Murray Emerson said it was fantastic to see the project moving forward.

“The hub will create 120 jobs during the construction phase and five ongoing jobs after that,” he said.

“That alone is exciting because we need employment in the region.”

Cr Emerson said it was positive that western Victoria was attracting large scale projects.

“It’s a $350-million development with 57 turbines and a battery storage hub,” he said.

“We are working continuously to attract these sorts of projects to the region.”

Cr Emerson said the hub project would also include a community grants program, which would offer up to $5000 for small projects and up to $20,000 for large projects.

“It’s great to see money going back to the community and when it is all up and running it will be fabulous,” he said.

Nectar Farms has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement for the supply of energy for its new 30-hectare glasshouse.

The farm will start construction on the glasshouse in the next few months. 

It will take up to 15 per cent of energy from the Bulgana hub, with the remaining 85 per cent going into the energy grid.

Nectar Farms chief executive Stephen Sasse said this was a key milestone for the project.

“At its core, it will enable us to start the planning and development process for our Stawell project,” he said.

“Our glasshouse is strategically located close to the major distribution centres and wholesale markets, which will go a long way in contributing to the state government’s food and fibre export targets.

“More importantly, the energy solution we have built with Neoen is a world-first for the horticulture industry, and we hope to see it replicated elsewhere in Australia.”