Works are now underway on Acciona Energy Australia’s wholly-owned $288 million Mortlake South Wind Farm in Victoria. This is the company’s fifth wind farm development in Australia, and it will have a capacity of approximately 157.5MW.
“This fifth wind farm in Australia shows our long-term commitment in a country whose energy future is increasingly linked to the development of clean and renewable sources - a process to which Acciona wants to make a significant contribution,” Acciona Energy Australia Managing Director Brett Wickham said.
Mortlake South Wind Farm will comprise of 35 4.5MW wind turbines to be supplied by Nordex as well as a 4-5MW battery storage which will help improve the wind farm’s performance and help facilitate its grid integration.
Acciona is also planning to deliver a 15-kilometre 220kV underground transmission line that will run from the Mortlake South Wind Farm to the Terang Terminal Station.
Approvals for the underground transmission line is still pending and the route has not yet been finalised. The final route of the transmission line will consider factors including environmental, cultural heritage as well as engineering considerations that will aim to minimise impact of the wind farm’s construction and operations.
“It’s more expensive, but it’s the right thing to do for this project.
“We examined various options, and of course are fully aware that existing above ground transmission lines have caused some angst locally. As our approach is to invest in local areas for the long term and work cooperatively with communities, we felt this decision would be the most appropriate local solution for these specific circumstances,” Mr Wickham said.
The Mortlake South Wind Farm is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power up to 115,000 homes. The wind farm is also anticipated to support up to 100 jobs during construction and another 10 jobs once it is operational.
The wind farm is due for completion and to be commissioned in the second half of 2020.
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Source: Acciona (1, 2); Renew Economy; Renewables Now