Tasmania’s newest wind farm producing electricity

Tasmania’s $280 million wind farm at Granville Harbour has started feeding power into the grid in another step towards the state’s aim to become the renewable energy battery of the nation.

A NEW wind farm on Tasmania’s West Coast has started pumping electricity into the State’s power grid as the State builds on its reputation as a clean energy powerhouse.

Construction began on $280 million Granville Harbour Wind Farm in August, 2018 with the first massive turbine erected in November last year.

Nine of the farm’s 31 turbines – the tallest of the State’s current five wind farms – are now up and running and feeding into the grid via a line to Reece Power Station.

When complete the farm will provide 360 gigawatt hours of energy a year which is enough to power 46,000 homes.

Granville Harbour Wind is Tasmania’s fifth operational wind farm with others at Cattle Hill in the Central Highlands, Woolnorth and Studland Bay in Tasmania’s far North-West and Musselroe Bay in the North-East.

Project Director Lyndon Frearson next to the Tower Crane during the Granville Harbour Wind Farm construction. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

More are on the drawing board, the most significant being UPC Renewables massive Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain development which is currently going through the approval process.

Granville Harbour Wind Farm project director Lyndon Frearson said the farm’s turbines featured the latest in blade aerofoil technology and, when turning, would sweep an area equivalent to 12,000 metres2 – around the same size as two soccer pitches.

“These first nine turbines are visually astonishing and a clear indication of Tasmania’s determination to move to a future where all electricity needs can be reliably met using clean, renewable power,” Mr Frearson said.

“Witnessing the first electricity flowing from the wind farm today has been a fabulous milestone as it demonstrates the commercial success of this project and reflects the skill and thoroughness of our contractors, Hydro Tasmania, TasNetworks and our investors.”

Granville Harbour Wind Farm construction. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Energy output from the wind farm will be sold to Hydro Tasmania as part of a long-term agreement.

The wind farm is being developed, constructed and financed by Palisade Investment Partners on behalf of its investors.

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Resources Minister Guy Barnett said Granville Harbour Wind Farm’s commissioning was another step towards Tasmania’s aim to become the renewable energy battery of the nation.

“This development is an example of the type of renewable energy initiatives that will be unlocked by Marinus Link, the proposed 1500 megawatt interconnector, and is another step toward our 2022 target to be 100 per cent renewable energy self-sufficient,” Mr Barnett said.

“We are working to deliver our nationally significant Marinus and Battery of the Nation projects, which are set to create thousands of local jobs and inject up to $7.1 billion into our economy over years to come.”

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