Wind Projects

Winchelsea

The permit application for the Winchelsea Wind Farm received approval from the local Surf Coast Shire in February 2008.

Situated on and around Mount Pollock in south western Victoria, the Winchelsea Wind Farm will consist of 14 wind turbines, with a total capacity of approximately 28 megawatts.

On site monitoring of the wind regime has demonstrated a valuable wind resource. It will produce approximately 85,000 MWh per annum which is enough energy for around 16,000 homes. The energy from the Wind Farm will be connected to the electricity grid via the local Winchelsea sub-station.

The site is cleared farming land, providing easy access for construction and minimum disruption to the local environment.

Future Energy, on behalf International Power (Australia) Pty Ltd, the company proposing to develop the wind farm, conducted and coordinated all feasibility and planning assessments in order to obtain planning approvals.

The Development Approval was the subject of several objections and hence was referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in 2008. On July 13 2009 the VCAT panel upheld the issuing of the original approval by Surf Coast Shire, and also modified some of the conditions. A modified Development Approval has been issued by the Council to International Power.

Environmental Benefits
Clean energy produced per year		Approx 85,000 MWh
Number of households supplied		Over 16,000
Greenhouse gas abatement per year		85,000 tonnes CO2
Number of cars off the road		Over 19,000
Equivalent number of trees planted		Over 126,000

Specifications
Turbines		14 x 2 MW wind turbines
Rated Capacity		28 MW
Energy generated annually		85,000 MWh

Approvals
Permit		Granted subject to VCAT hearing
Fauna		Study completed
Flora		Assessment completed
Noise		Assessment completed
Heritage		Assessment completed
Visual amenity		Assessment completed

Wind resource
Average wind speed		ca. 7.5 m/sec
Source		On-site monitoring