Capital Wind Farm

Capital Wind Farm
Location of Capital Wind Farm in New South Wales
Country Australia
Location 30 km (19 mi) north east of Canberra
Coordinates 35°08′45″S 149°34′02″E / 35.1458°S 149.5671°E / -35.1458; 149.5671Coordinates: 35°08′45″S 149°34′02″E / 35.1458°S 149.5671°E / -35.1458; 149.5671
Status Operating
Construction began Early 2008
Construction cost A$370 million[1]
Owner(s) Infigen Energy
Operator(s) Infigen Energy
Wind farm
Type onshore
Site usage Farming
Hub height 80 metres
Rotor diameter 88 metres
Power generation
Units operational 67
Make and model Suzlon S88
Nameplate capacity 140.7 MW
Website
http://www.infigenenergy.com

The Capital Wind Farm near Bungendore is the largest wind farm in New South Wales. It is part of the 6,000-hectare (15,000-acre) Capital Renewable Energy Precinct, along with nearby Woodlawn Wind Farm and the Capital East Solar Demonstration Plant.

Capital Wind Farm was built by international contractors Suzlon Energy for owner and operator Infigen Energy. Construction began in early 2008, and the wind farm became fully operational in October 2009. It is a 140.7 megawatt wind farm with 67 turbines.

Location

The Capital Wind Farm is around 30 kilometres (19 mi) north east of Canberra, just southeast of Lake George and north of Bungendore. It is located in open farming country, with minimal obstructions in the landscape and smooth topography.[2]

Construction

The Capital Wind Farm was built for Infigen Energy by Suzlon Energy.[3] It was constructed as part of the Kurnell Desalination Plant project to offset the power usage of the desalination plant.[4][5]

"The wind farm has been designed to produce more than enough energy to operate the desalination plant to cover the days when there is less wind. It will increase the supply of wind energy in NSW by over 700%. It is a massive boost to the renewable energy sector and an environmentally sensible way to offset the power needs of the desalination plant."

— Sydney Water

The wind farm was completed in October 2009 at a cost estimated between A$220 million and A$370 million.[1][6] It was opened by the Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, in November 2009.[7][8]

People and employment

Since the wind farm was established, the population of nearby Bungendore has increased by 24 per cent, which the Clean Energy Council has claimed is because of its proximity to the wind farm.[9]

During construction of the Capital Wind Farm, 120 people were employed on the project. Over the construction period, about A$10 million went into the local economy, with spending up at the local stores, restaurants and motels.[10] Since construction has finished there are 15 ongoing jobs at the wind farm for service and maintenance.

Some residents who live nearby to the Capital Wind Farm have complained about the noise from the turbines.[11][12][13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Megan Doherty (24 Dec 2008). "Wind turbines sprout, bring a change of heart". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. ↑ Infigen Energy. "The Capital Wind Farm" (PDF). Infigen Energy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Industry Capability Network (ICN). "Capital Wind Farm starts a new industry supply chain". ICN. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Edmund Tadros and Brian Robins (14 May 2008). "Wind farm vow to power desalination". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 August 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wind turbines to power NSW desal plant". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Alan Copeland (November 2009). "Electricity Generation Major Development Projects -- October 2009 Listing" (PDF). ABARE. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Biggest NSW wind farm online". ABC News. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Jim Trail (18 November 2009). "Prime Minister Rudd opens the Capital Wind Farm". 666 ABC Canberra. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Wind farms beneficial: Clean Energy Council". ABC Rural. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Kate Thornton (13 Jan 2012). "The answer is blowing on the wind". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  11. ↑ Alan Dick (29 November 2010). "Wind farm critics slam ‘all in the mind’ games". The Land. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  12. ↑ Josephine Tovey (20 February 2012). "Scepticism over Hazzard's audit of wind farm noise". The Courier. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Debra Jopson (21 September 2009). "Wind turbines put farmers in a spin". The Land. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
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