Mt Millar Wind Farm
Located on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, the Mt Millar Wind Farm comprises 35 wind turbines on the elongated Mt Millar site to maximise wind exposure.
Mt Millar Wind Farm will reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 168,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
Number of turbines
35
Energy produced
70 megawatts – providing enough energy to meet the needs of about 36,000 typical households.
The site
The site was chosen to maximise wind exposure as the area has consistently strong winds, and is in close proximity to the electricity grid.
The land continues to be used for sheep grazing and cropping, and the turbine sites have been leased from four families who have worked the land for several generations. The families are able to maintain their farming activities with very limited impact by the Wind Farm.
Environmental benefits
The Mt Millar Wind Farm will reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent during its forecast 25 year operating life.
This is achieved by replacing coal or gas in energy production processes through harnessing the natural resource of wind.
Investments in renewable energy are environmentally and commercially sustainable. Australian Government renewable energy schemes allow producers of renewable energy to sell the power generated and obtain Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Energy retailers are required to purchase RECs to support the generation of renewable energy and achieve renewable energy targets.
Blade dimensions
Diameter of the blades is 71 metres, atop an 85 metre high tower – a combined height of more than 120 metres.
The turbines
The Enercon E70 wind turbines were manufactured in Germany. These units utilise advanced gearless inverter connected technology, with each generator producing 2,000 kilowatts of electricity.
The 85 metre tubular steel towers were produced in South Australia by Air-Ride Technologies.
Other equipment
A 33 kilometre overhead transmission line connects to ElectraNet’s existing transmission network at Yadnarie substation. The transmission line is built, owned, maintained and operated by ElectraNet, and provides opportunities for further developments in the region, and the potential for a substantial boost to the security of electricity supply for the Cowell and Cleve region.
Construction
Construction commenced in October 2004 with the pouring of concrete for the first wind turbine in March 2005. The continuous pour took some nine hours and consumed 65 truckloads of concrete.
Each 20 metre diameter mass foundation includes the embedded cylinder to which the subsequent tower section is bolted, as well as approximately 40 tonnes of reinforcing steel and 330 cubic metres (800 tonnes) of concrete.
Physical construction was completed in December 2005, and the first electricity was generated from the site on 28 February 2006.
The Mt Millar Wind Farm was commissioned in December 2006, at a total project cost $138 million.
The project
The Mt Millar Wind Farm was developed by Mt Millar Wind Farm Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tarong Energy Corporation Ltd.
Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund acquired the wind farm in December 2007.
For more information about wind farms, please visit www.windfarms.net.au