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Renewable Energy News

THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER, 2009 |

Largest Wind Farm In New South Wales Officially Opened

by Energy Matters

Capital Wind Farm New South Wales
Capital Wind Farm was officially launched by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Nathan Rees and Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong yesterday.

The Capital Wind Farm, the largest wind farm in New South Wales, is situated in Bungendore and will boost Australia's wind power capacity by more than 10 per cent.

The wind farm consists of 67 Suzlon S88 wind turbines that all have a rating of 2.1MW and total installed capacity is 140.7MW. The project is capable of supplying electricity to around 60,000 homes and is almost five times the size of any other wind farm in NSW. The farm will help power the new desalination plant at Kurnell.

Around 50 wind farms are currently in operation around Australia.

The project provided employment opportunities for over 120 people during the construction phase and will provide ongoing employment in the local community. Australia's first wind farm apprentices are also employed at Capital Wind Farm, learning skills in electro technology and wind turbines.

Australian companies, including Victoria's Keppel Prince Engineering and Queensland's RPG, contributed key components to the Capital Wind Farm in partnership with Suzlon Energy Australia, part of the global Suzlon Energy group.

While the wind farm is a welcome addition to Australia's renewable energy push, Australian Greens Deputy Leader Senator Christine Milne warned the farm may be amongst the last significant renewable energy developments in Australia if the Government fails to fix the flawed Renewable Energy Target legislation. Senator Milne says the inclusion of solar hot water, heat pumps and the solar credits multiplier in the renewable energy target is undermining the scheme by crashing the price of renewable energy certificates (RECs).