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WA’s Wheatbelt becoming a wind farm belt
Published Date : 2024-July-3, Wednesday
ACCIONA Energia
has reported positive results so far from wind monitoring at its Shire of West Arthur site, located in the Wheatbelt region of
WA, which could lead to its first renewable energy project in the state.
ACCIONA has
been monitoring the wind resource in areas around Darkan and Arthur River, located
approximately 200km south-east of Perth.
Contact has
been made with host landowners to develop the project that could have a potential
capacity of up to 2000 MW, and community consultation has started.
News of
ACCIONA’s project comes after Green
Wind Renewables last week unveiled plans for its Ambrosia
Wind Farm development near Moodiarrup, approximately 30km south of
Darkan also in the Shire of West Arthur.
Ambrosia Wind Farm could
comprise up to 100 wind turbines, for a nameplate capacity of 600 MW.
While parts
of the coastline in south and mid-west WA have been exploited for their well-known
excellent wind resources, developers have been slow to plan projects more than a
few kilometres from the coast.
The 222 MW Collgar Wind Farm in Merredin, which first started
generating in 2011, was an early exception.
In more
recent times Enel’s Flat Rocks Wind Farm, which
is under construction near Kojonup in southern inland WA, has lead the way for
developers to expand site selection options for wind farms to the interior of
the state.
Synergy has
approvals for its proposed 150 MW King Rocks Wind Farm near
Hyden, and Yilgarn Holdings is looking at a 60 MW wind farm near Southern Cross.
Meanwhile ACCIONA
is planning to install additional wind monitoring equipment at its Shire of West
Arthur site as it continues to develop the project.