The South Australian Government has defended its multi-million dollar spend on wind energy, saying the renewable source is a solid investment for the state’s future.

With some uncertainty plaguing the wind-driven sector, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill is confident wind will be the best long-term source of energy, with technological advances increasing efficiency and wholesale prices tumbling.

The Premier’s most recent announcement in the wind vein was during a recent visit to the town of Whyalla, where it was revealed millions in tax-payer money would be used to secure work for the E and A Company, which has been awarded a contract by global wind power giant Siemens to construct 20 of the 90 towers needed for the Snowtown-2 project.

The Snowtown project is seen as a move to recoup total losses from a ditched Olympic Dam expansion previously in the pipeline. Far from a consolation prize, the wind farming effort is set to create the state’s largest such energy system when it is complete.