Early work has begun on a new 412-megawatt wind farm in South Australia, with its operators already securing a long-term contract to provide electricity to the ACT government.

The Goyder Renewables Zone project near Burra in SA’s mid-north is expected to be operational by 2024.

The 75 wind turbines will be connected to ElectraNet’s Robertstown substation through a new transmission line.

Renewable energy company Neoen said the Goyder South Stage 1 farm would take its power production in operation and under construction to 2.5 gigawatts.

It will also create 400 construction jobs and 12 ongoing positions, while the 14-year deal to provide power to the ACT includes construction there of a 100-megawatt battery.

Over time, the Goyder Renewables Zone will grow to 1200 megawatts of wind generation, 600 megawatts of solar power and 900 megawatts of battery storage, with further stages to be unlocked following construction of SA’s new electricity interconnector with NSW.

Neoen Australia’s Managing Director Louis de Sambucy said the project was world class and supported SA’s ambition to be an exporter of renewable energy and the ACT’s target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.

South Australian Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the start of construction of the Goyder South farm was a key moment in the state’s transition to clean energy.

“The project highlights South Australia’s world-class renewable energy capacity, helping to deliver cheaper, cleaner electricity and hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars in investment in the state,” he said.