SPANISH company Iberdrola has emerged as the “fresh suitor” for 112 of the wind turbines along the Woakwine Range and their associated $38.5m battery storage plant.
The Lake Bonney wind farm is owned by Australian company Infigen Energy, which has been in the takeover sights of Filipino firm UAC.
The other 24 turbines in that area comprise the Canunda wind farm and it is owned by French company International Energy which is headquartered in England.
UAC recently told the Australian Stock Exchange of its intentions, and its unsolicited bid valued Infigen Energy at $777m.
However, a “friendly” Iberdrola bid worth $835m has been endorsed by the board of Infigen Energy.
Infigen Energy has had planning approval since 2012 for the construction of a further 124 turbines along the Woakwine Range north of Millicent.
There are 83 turbines earmarked for the Wattle Range Council area with the remainder located in the Kingston and Robe council areas.
Any takeover would require the approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board.
UAC recently bought a 13pc stake in Infigen Energy.
Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll described Infigen Energy and the renewal energy industry as “an important employer in our region, contributing greatly to our community on a number of levels”.
“If the takeover is successful by Iberdrola, we hope that Iberdrola can further develop the renewal energy operations in our council area and thereby add important capital investment and additional employment opportunities for our community,” Mr Noll said.
