The wind farm is expected to provide renewable energy to the national energy market for at least 25 years.
The total amount of carbon emissions created during construction of the farm were offset by operation within five months.
The $200m Oaklands Hill Wind Farm is located on 2,323 hectares of freehold agricultural land 3 km south of Glenthompson, in the shire of Southern Grampians in Western Victoria. It spans eight properties, which are mainly used for sheep and cattle grazing.
The location was chosen for its high potential for harvesting wind.
AGL undertook a wide range of comprehensive studies to determine the impact of Oaklands Hill Wind Farm on ecology, landscape, cultural heritage, visual amenity and other environmental factors. Following a robust development process, a planning permit was issued in late 2008.
AGL commenced construction of Oaklands Wind Farm in mid-2010, with practical completion achieved in February 2012.
Suzlon Energy Australia Pty Ltd (SEA) was awarded the Engineer Procure & Construct (EPC) contract – they installed 32 Suzlon S88 turbines with a capacity of 2.1 MW each. The total output from the wind farm is capped at 63 MW.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual turbine capacity | 2.1 MW |
| Turbine type | Suzlon S88 |
| Turbine height | 80 m |
| Max blade tip height | 124 m |
| Length of on-site access tracks | 26 km |
| Length of underground cables | 26 km |
| Concrete | 10,240 m3 |
| Steel for towers | 5,460 tonnes |
| Average Australian households powered each year | Approximately 29,000 |
