Media Release
WestWind Energy Australia announced today that they will partner with GE Renewable Energy to co-develop the Golden Plains wind farm near Rokewood, Victoria.
The project will utilise over 200 of GE’s Cypress onshore wind turbines, creating the southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm with a generating capacity of more than 1 GW.
The project is expected to commence construction in 2021, and will likely be completed in stages, with total capacity projected to be online in approximately 2025.
The Golden Plains project has been in development for over eight years, with support from local landowners and the community. As a locally based developer WestWind have committed to a substantial community benefit program and have recently established a local community reference group to ensure the local community benefits from the wind farm.
WestWind and GE will work closely together through the development phase to drive value for the project, including layout and grid connection optimisation, building upon the strong existing relationship between the two companies.
Tobias Geiger, Managing Director of WestWind Energy Australia, was elated at the news: “WestWind Energy’s roots are local – we are a team of just 16, all of whom are based in Victoria. We operate in a different way to the big utilities and developers – we work where we live and are part of the local fabric. This project will make a huge difference to the community, with many local jobs created during construction and operation as well as providing drought proof income to 40 host landholders.”
Cr Owen Sharkey, Mayor of Golden Plains Shire, said, “We’re thrilled to hear of the progress on Golden Plains Wind Farm. The project has been in development for a number of years over the course of which WestWind has built trust with the local community via collaborative consultation. We look forward to the benefits the project will bring to the region for many years to come.”
David Lian, Sales Director GE Renewable Energy Onshore Wind in Australia, commented: “GE brought its full capability to bear to secure preferred status on Golden Plains. We listened closely to WestWind Energy to ensure the right value levers were targeted for both the project and WestWind as the developer.”
Announced by GE Renewable Energy last year, the Cypress platform is the most powerful and efficient wind turbine in operation. It utilises a two-piece blade design which enables blades to be manufactured at long lengths while improving logistics to drive costs down and offer more siting options, in locations that were previously inaccessible. The first Cypress project in Australia, Bango wind farm, will commence construction in New South Wales in September.
Image Credit: www.ge.com
