German renewable energy company BayWa r.e. AG has received approval from the Victorian government to construct a 312-MW wind farm accompanied by a battery storage system in eastern Australia.
The Victoria state government announced the positive decision for the Wimmera Plains Energy Facility on Saturday. The project will be situated 10 km northeast of Horsham, within the Horsham Rural City Council Local Government Area, and will connect to an existing 220-kV transmission line. The facility will feature up to 52 wind turbines and a 100-MW battery storage system with a discharge capacity of up to 400 MWh.
Once operational, the site is expected to generate enough green electricity to power approximately 202,000 local homes. This project aligns with Victoria's efforts to phase out coal-fired power stations and transition to clean energy sources.
BayWa submitted its planning application for the Wimmera Plains Energy Facility in May. Construction is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with commercial operations expected to commence by late 2027.
The project's construction phase is projected to create up to 280 direct jobs, contributing to the local economy and supporting the state's renewable energy goals.
