Origin Energy also secured an option to acquire a future 50 per cent equity interest in the Challicum Hills project. Origin said with a maximum generation capacity of 52.5 megawatts (MW), Challicum Hills will be the largest wind farm in Australia and when the project comes online in mid-2003, it will consolidate its position as the largest buyer of wind energy in Australia.

"When combined with the 30MW Yambuk wind farm, both projects have the capacity to provide enough green electricity to power more than 42,000 homes and abate around 290,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year," Origin said.

Origin added following its recent acquisition of CitiPower, about 120MW of wind power generation is now contracted by Origin Energy and represents all major Victorian wind farm output. The new contracts will underpin significant growth in Victoria's wind power industry, more than tripling current capacity, the company said.

"These contracts clearly demonstrate our commitment to growing Australia's renewable energy sector. The 100 per cent clean energy from the wind farms will supply our growing Green Earth customer demand for clean electricity," said Origin's executive general manager retail, Peter Vines.

Origin Energy already purchases the entire output from the 18MW Codrington wind farm in western Victoria.