The first set of colossal 80-meter-long wind turbine blades has arrived at Geelong Port. These blades are destined to become a prominent feature of the Golden Plains skyline, marking a significant milestone for what is poised to be Australia's largest wind farm, boasting a staggering 1.3 GW capacity.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm project, with its ambitious 122 Vestas 6.2 MW turbines, represents a monumental leap in the country's pursuit of sustainable energy sources. These turbines are designed to harness the power of the wind, with each blade measuring a remarkable 11 meters longer than any previously transported through Geelong. The towers themselves are no less imposing, boasting a diameter of 6.4 meters and necessitating a clearance of up to 6.8 meters in height for transportation from the port to their designated installation sites.
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While the first shipment of tower components arrived last month, the project's scale becomes even more apparent when considering the logistical undertaking ahead. A total of 1,464 components, including 366 blades, 732 tower sections, and 122 individual powertrains comprising gearboxes, generators, nacelles, and hubs, will be transported on 22 vessels over the coming months. These components will be stored at Geelong Port until October, awaiting assembly.
The foundation work for 39 turbines has already been completed, reflecting the project's steady progress. Notably, the wind farm will also incorporate a 300 MW battery system, although specific details regarding its storage duration have yet to be disclosed.
TagEnergy, the managing partner of the project, has set its sights on commencing power delivery to the grid by 2025. An 85% owner of the venture, TagEnergy welcomed Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group (the world's largest IKEA retailer), as a 15% stakeholder this year. Additionally, Snowy Hydro recently inked an agreement to purchase 40% of the energy generated by the Golden Plains Wind Farm, further bolstering its prospects.
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Construction has been proceeding at an accelerated pace since April, following TagEnergy's acquisition of the project in 2022 and the resolution of a series of legal challenges through state government intervention. The concept of the Golden Plains Wind Farm had been in the works for over 15 years since its initial proposal by West Wind. Although approved for development in 2018, the project encountered legal hurdles along the way. The final legal challenge, which failed to secure a hearing in the High Court of Australia last year, was ultimately overcome through changes to state planning rules by the Victoria government. These rule changes led to the withdrawal of threatened legal actions, paving the way for the project's advancement.
The wind farm's journey has been marked by significant financial backing, with TagEnergy securing a substantial $175 million from the Clean Energy Finance Council (CEFC) for Stage 1, marking the federal government's largest investment in a wind farm through its green bank. This funding was complemented by an impressive $1.8 billion from the private sector.
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In a demonstration of its commitment to the local community, TagEnergy also announced additional community projects valued at over $300,000, jointly funded by Vestas, CPP, MPK, and AusNet Services. These projects aim to enhance community safety and convenience in the vicinity of the wind farm.
As the Golden Plains Wind Farm project continues to take shape, it promises to be a transformative force in Australia's renewable energy landscape, ushering in a new era of sustainable power generation and reducing the nation's carbon footprint.
