AGL Energy Limited (AGL) today announced it had entered into agreements for the construction of the 52.5MW Hallett 5 wind farm at the Bluff Range in the mid-north of South Australia.

Construction will begin in July with completion anticipated in December 2011. It will create more than 120 jobs for the region during the construction phase.

Hallett 5 will consist of 25 s88 V3 turbines (2.1MW each) to be purchased from Suzlon Energy Australia Pty Ltd (Suzlon) at a total development cost of approximately $120 million.

AGL Managing Director Michael Fraser said, “The construction of the Hallett 5 wind farm is necessary to supply our long term renewable energy contracts, which include the South Australian desalination plant, the Victorian desalination plant and as announced this week, the Melbourne Water Corporation.

"AGL is proud of our involvement with the Hallett community and is pleased to reaffirm our commitment to establish a Community Fund program for $15,000 per year from the commencement of construction of the wind farm to the end of its operational life."

Hallett 5 is located approximately 185km north of Adelaide, about 5km east of Hallett 1 wind farm which opened in mid 2008.

AGL manages Australia’s largest privately owned or operated portfolio of renewable generation assets. By the end of this year, AGL will own or operate approximately 1,200 MW of renewable energy generation assets, with approximately 2,300 MW of further renewable generation development opportunities. AGL is Australia’s largest listed owner, operator and developer of renewable generation.

The Hallett 2 wind farm (71 MW) is in the commissioning phase, Hallett 4 (132 MW) is under construction and Hallett 3 (80 MW) is in development.

Further information for the community about AGL’s Hallett wind farms is available at the AGL Information Centre in Burra.

About AGL

AGL is Australia's leading integrated renewable energy company and is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for our investors, communities and customers. Drawing on over 170 years of experience, AGL operates retail and merchant energy businesses, power generation assets and an upstream gas portfolio. AGL has Australia's largest retail energy and dual fuel customer base. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, landfill gas and biomass. AGL is Australia's largest private owner and operator of renewable energy assets and is looking to further expand this position by exploring a suite of low emission and renewable energy generation development opportunities.