Future Energy is progressing the development of a wind farm near Castlemaine which has the potential to support up to 20MW of renewable generation. Landholder agreements have been signed and the planning permit application process is now under way.
The site is located in the Mount Alexander Shire, approximately 120 km north west of Melbourne. Being cleared farming land, the site provides easy access for construction and minimum disruption to the local environment. If the wind farm goes ahead, all farming activity will continue unchanged.
Current planning and feasibility studies for the proposal are based on a wind farm of six (6) wind turbines, however as development work progresses this may be amended. Assuming a capacity of 12 MW the wind farm will produce enough energy to power over 6,700 homes.
| Energy and Greenhouse benefits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Renewable energy production per annum | 36,000 MWh | |
| Equivalent number of households | 6,754 | |
| Greenhouse gas abatement | 36,000 tonnes CO2 | |
| Equivalent number of cars off the road | 8,314 | |
| Equivalent number of trees planted | 53,731 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Turbines | 6 x 2 MW wind turbines | |
| Rated Capacity | 12 MW | |
| Energy generated annually | Approx. 36,000 MWh p.a. | |
| Approvals | ||
| Fauna | Initial studies in progress | |
| Flora | Initial studies in progress | |
| Noise | Commencing 2010 | |
| Heritage | Commencing 2010 | |
| Landscape assessment | Commencing 2010 | |
| Wind resource | ||
| Average wind speed | Approx 8 metres/sec | |
| Source | Expert modeling |