The ACT Government has started its second large-scale wind farm auction, which could double the amount of wind farm-generated electricity the territory buys.

The ACT had its first wind farm auction held earlier this year, which led to new deal being struck with three winners; the Ararat wind farm in south-west Victoria, the Coonooer Bridge wind farm north-west of Bendigo and Hornsdale wind farm near Port Augusta in South Australia.

It will now open the bidding again, as part of its mission to meet the ambitious renewable energy target of 90 per cent by 2020.

Environment Minister Simon Corbell officially launched the ACT's second wind auction, saying it would take advantage of “favourable market conditions” to get good deals on a further 200 megawatts of wind farm energy - enough for about 106,000 Canberra homes.

“Now is the time to secure competitive pricing,” he said.

“There's no doubt that if we were to wait until next year we would see potentially less competitive projects coming into the mix.”

The auction is intended to support at least two more wind farm projects in addition to the three backed last time.

The ACT Government also has contracts with companies operating or proposing solar power plants in Willamsdale, Royalla and Hume in southern ACT.

But just one of the six solar contracts is with an operator that actually has a plant, with the other five under construction or awaiting planning approval.

“The reality is that getting renewable energy projects on the ground takes time,” Mr Corbell said.

“But we are well advanced with our renewable energy projects — one operational in the ACT, another about to commence construction in the ACT, and three wind farm projects also commencing construction in a very short turnaround from when they were awarded ACT feed-in tariff support.

“I have every confidence that we will see significant development over the next 12 months of all of these projects.”