Thursday Island is one of the Torres Strait Islands and is located approximately 39km north of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.

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Thursday Island’s wind turbines are some of the oldest operating in Australia and demonstrate the suitability of renewable energy in Australian conditions.

Ergon isolated networks manager Dane Thomas said, “It’s great to see the turbines in the air once again. Thursday Island has once again welcomed the winds of change and is embracing a renewable energy future after leading the way when the wind farm was established in 1997,” he said.

“While this was cutting-edge technology when it was initially installed, it was due for a major overhaul, so the generating equipment was shipped to a specialist facility in South Australia while the towers were maintained onsite.

“With the completion of this $2 million project we have improved the reliability and efficiency of the wind turbines, which can generate enough energy to support around 100 high-use homes and are expected to save several thousand litres of diesel a week,” Thomas said.

To date, the wind turbines have generated more than 18,921MWh of renewable energy and savings of 220,000L of diesel a year on average.

As part of its commitment to decarbonising remote communities, and in consultation with the local councils and traditional owners, Ergon Energy Network is pursuing a range of renewable energy options on Thursday Island, including solar solutions.

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“While the turbines can produce a lot of clean energy when the wind is blowing they won’t be as productive during those calm periods, known as ‘the doldrums’, and that’s why we need a mix of energy solutions,” Thomas said.

“There is widespread community interest in harnessing the power of the sun and we are working together with the council and other agencies to find the most suitable options and support a renewable energy future.”

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Ark Energy general manager development for Tasmania Donna Bolton said, “The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm site is an excellent location for wind energy generation. Grid connection is onsite, residual environmental impacts can be managed and the wind resource is excellent.

Related article: Ark Energy withdraws plans for Doughboy Wind Farm

“This project will deliver much needed new renewable electricity generation to help Tasmania benefit from its world leading wind resource and achieve its renewable energy target, as well as bring a wide range of benefits for the local community and region.”

The St Patricks Plains Wind Farm has been in development since 2019 and has undergone several design iterations, including removal of 20 wind turbines to avoid environmental impacts, minimise visual impacts and address community concerns.

“We have worked hard to avoid and minimise potential environmental impacts, and the unavoidable environmental impacts are manageable, as shown by the EPA’s report,” Bolton said.

“The Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle has been a key species of focus. Proactive avoidance and the latest technology have been combined to achieve the least impact possible to Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles. Major design revisions have been made to avoid areas used by eagles and the Identiflight curtailment system will be installed across the site to minimise collision risk.

“We will continue to seek to minimise environmental impacts, be a good neighbour to those around the project area, and work diligently to deliver benefits from the project to the local community and wider region.”

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Ark Energy will now consider the conditions issued with the permit approval and awaits a final decision under the EPBC Act from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

This is the first planning approval in Tasmania for Ark Energy and follows approval earlier this year for its 347MW Bowmans Creek Wind Farm to be located in the NSW Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.

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State-owned Stanwell is working with global renewable energy developer RES to build the proposed 436.5MW wind farm 30km south-west of Kingaroy.

Related article: Ark Energy withdraws plans for Doughboy Wind Farm

The project will feature 97 wind turbines and produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 230,000 homes.

The SARA assessment considered an accommodation strategy for workers to ensure housing supply in the region will not be adversely affected.

SARA has worked closely with the Department of Resources to ensure that the development helps protect important areas of ecological significance including protecting up to 13.47ha of koala habitat.

Conditions have been imposed for offsetting impacts for up to 5.4ha of Koala habitat in addition to requirements to rehabilitate areas cleared during construction, to the greatest extent possible.

Construction is expected to commence from 2025.

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Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said, “The Tarong West Wind Farm is a critical part of not only Stanwell’s plan to decarbonise our existing portfolio, but it’s critical to Queensland reaching its renewable energy targets.

“This development approval brings us one step closer to our aim of having 9-10GW of large-scale wind and solar capacity by 2035 and we are continuing to work with RES through the approval processes so we can bring this project to life.”

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The Mt Weld hybrid power station will include a 24MW wind farm, 7MW solar farm, and a 12MW/12MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

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The renewable facility will be supported by a 17MW gas-fired power station with 5MW of standby diesel generation. Upon completion, the total installed capacity of the Mt Weld Power Station will be approximately 65MW.

The term of the PPA is 15 years, commencing from commercial operation of the wind farm, which is scheduled to occur in calendar year 2026. The diesel and gas facilities are scheduled to be completed in the first half of calendar year 2025, with solar and BESS to be installed progressively, and full operation expected in calendar year 2026.

The Mt Weld Power Station has been designed to run “engine-off” during periods of high renewable energy production and achieve an average annual renewable energy percentage of up to approximately 70%.

Zenith CEO and managing director, Hamish Moffat said, “As a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions to the Australian resources market Zenith is pleased to be working with Lynas, the world’s only significant producer of separated rare earth materials outside of China, on the high renewable energy fraction hybrid power solution to their Mt Weld operations.

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“The signing of the Mt Weld Hybrid power station Power Purchase Agreement represents a significant milestone for Zenith Energy, with our contracted Wind Capacity now exceeding 100MW. Zenith looks forward to enabling Lynas to deliver on their productivity and decarbonisation objectives.”

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Through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the investment will create hundreds of new jobs and see the power grid upgraded and expanded across the Territory, supporting major transmission projects and bolstering grid strength.

Related article: Boosting batteries and renewables in the Northern Territory

The Rewiring the Nation investment will also accelerate the rollout of transmission projects across the Territory with the first wave of these to be completed before 2030.

The deal includes an agreement to deploy community-scale solar, rooftop solar and clean energy technologies throughout the Territory. This will provide up to $500 in energy cost savings per year for consumers locked out of installing their own rooftop solar, like hardship customers, renters and apartment dwellers.

Projects financed under this agreement will contribute to the energy mix across the Territory by increasing amounts of renewable generation such as solar and wind and reducing reliance on power generation from fossil fuels.

In addition to priority projects supporting the Darwin-Katherine Interconnected System (DKIS), there is potential for projects in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek to also receive support as part of the decarbonisation of the NT’s energy system.

Northern Territory Minister for Energy and Renewables Kate Worden said, “Investing in battery technology ensures Territorians will have reliable power supply as we move to integrate more renewable energy into our electricity grid.

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“We can make these investments because the Territory Government owns our assets like Power and Water, Territory Generation and Jacana.

“Because we own our assets, we can keep the cost of power low. We also subside the power bill of every Territory household by $1,500 a year through the Community Service Obligation.”

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Related article: Green Wind reveals plan for 600MW wind farm in WA

Cannie Wind Farm is awaiting referral decision on whether it requires environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The proposed project will be located approximately 25km northwest of Kerang, in the Gannawarra Shire Council area.

RES has updated preliminary constraints mapping of the site and as a result has reduced the number of wind turbines to a maximum of 174 (from the previously advised maximum of 200 turbines). Wind turbines will have a blade tip height of up to 280m.

The proposed site extends over 17,000 hectares of land predominately used for grazing and cropping. Landowners within the wind farm boundary have entered into preliminary agreements with RES to host the wind farm.

Related article: Windlab’s Gawara Baya Wind Farm gets green light

Cannie Wind Farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply over 600,000 Victorian homes.

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Related article: Windlab’s Gawara Baya Wind Farm gets green light

Located near Moodiarrup, approximately 55km South-East of Collie and 30km South of Darkan in the Shire of West Arthur, the project is on track to become a significant addition to Western Australia’s renewable energy portfolio.

Hosting up to 100 wind turbines, the Ambrosia Wind Farm is expected to produce more than 600MW of clean, sustainable energy. This capacity translates to an anticipated annual energy generation of approximately 1.8TWh—enough to power the equivalent of 300,000 homes across Western Australia.

Green Wind Renewables will soon be kicking off community consultation and neighbour engagement processes as part of the development of the project.

In addition to its economic benefits, the Ambrosia Wind Farm project also promises significant environmental advantages. With an eye on combating climate change, the project is expected to offset more than 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, emphasising the urgency of transitioning towards renewable energy sources.

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In 2023, Green Wind Renewables and Macquarie Asset Management signed a partnership agreement to deliver a portfolio of large-scale wind farm projects in WA, totalling up to 2.4GW.

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Related article: Work starts on Stage 2 of Golden Plains Wind Farm

To be built 70km inland from Ingham in Queensland, Gawara Baya Wind Farm will be home to 69 wind turbines and will generate enough energy to power 240,000 homes.

The approval of the wind farm is subject to strict conditions to protect the Sharman’s Rock-Wallaby and northern Greater Glider, and follows a rigorous assessment process.

The conditions include clearance limits, hours of operation during construction, and submission of environmental management plans which will set out how any impacts will be managed, mitigated, avoided or offset.

The project is located on an active cattle property within Gugu Badhun Country in close proximity to the existing electricity transmission network.

On the project’s website, Windlab said, “Gawara Baya is an essential early-transition opportunity for new, large-scale clean energy generation that can be responsibly developed, grid connected via existing transmission infrastructure and producing power within the next four years.

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“Gawara Baya is a key project driving progress against time-critical decarbonisation, as well as supporting the solution for the critical shortage of renewable energy supply expected by 2025.”

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Since April 2020, ArcVera Renewables has published free monthly Wind and Solar Anomaly Maps for regions across the globe. The maps are produced using proprietary processes, ensuring early-next-month first-look availability of critical information to meet the needs of global clientele.

ArcVera CEO Greg Poulos said, “We continue to expand our services to support project developers, operators, and investors with state-of-the-science technical expertise.

“With offices now in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and later in 2024 in Australia, offering ArcVera’s Wind and Solar Anomaly maps in these regions consistently illustrates ArcVera’s mission of delivering valuable responsive insights to our clients throughout the project lifecycle.”

ArcVera Renewables offers a complimentary subscription service that sends subscribers monthly email notifications when the maps are posted on the ArcVera website The notification is always sent in the first week of the following month. In addition to Europe and Australia maps, ArcVera covers the Continental United States (CONUS), Brazil, South Africa, and India, with additional regions available on request.

“These maps, which underpin our commitment to providing comprehensive data, quickly and accurately, provide a visual representation of the percent deviation of the wind and solar resource in a region or at a specific project footprint,” Poulos said.

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“These timely maps are not just data but critical information for project stakeholders. They are responsible for providing monthly project production reports and answering others, such as investors and owners, for production missing or exceeding forecasts. The first step is to review the amount of “fuel”—wind or solar radiation relative to normal—before deepening production investigations.”

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The land is adjacent to the 400MW Saltbush (formerly Hay Plains) Wind Farm also owned by Octopus.

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This extensive landholding will enable the generation of over 1.5GW of power through the ongoing development of the 400MW Saltbush Wind Farm and the newly established $3.5 billion 1GW Merino Wind Farm.

These developments will be supported by large-scale solar and battery storage, creating firmed renewable energy generation for the area. The additional land also offers the potential to connect to key transmission lines in the future, strategically positioning Octopus for the upcoming and future Access Rights Tenders.

Octopus now has an operating and development portfolio of over $11 billion, which includes Fulham Solar Farm and Battery and Blind Creek Solar Farm and Battery, both of which are due to start construction later this year.

Octopus Australia co-managing director Darren Brown said, “The acquisition marks a major milestone in Octopus Australia’s strategy to build a portfolio of energy assets which model what a future clean energy generation base will look like in Australia.

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“These cornerstone wind assets supplemented with Octopus’ storage and solar developments across the NEM, are designed to be an integrated, multi-technology portfolio that can offer truly unique and differentiated Power Purchase Agreement products to energy customers and sustainable value to investors.”

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Renewable Energy Zones are areas with high-quality renewable resources such as wind and solar.

“Launching the consultation is the next step in delivering Tasmania’s first Renewable Energy Zone, and it is a key part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future,” Minister Duigan said.

“Tasmania’s population is growing, and so too are our energy needs that’s why we deliver a Renewable Energy Zona as part of our Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. This will ensure we can meet demand, while also bringing to the State new jobs and economic opportunities.

“Renewable Energy Zones will coordinate and foster renewable generation development in the most suitable areas of Tasmania and minimise supporting transmission infrastructure.”

As part of the creation of the REZ, the Tasmanian Government will work with TasNetworks to progress new transmission infrastructure between Burnie and Hampshire Hills.

Minister Duigan said, “The North West has world-class wind resources along with the space and infrastructure for renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar farms.

“Our government will underwrite transmission infrastructure between Burnie and Hampshire to support new and existing renewable energy generation projects in the region.”

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Consultation on the proposed REZ boundary and an associated community benefits scheme will occur over the next six weeks, with a market offering for proponents soon to follow.

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The blades have been installed on an existing wind turbine in Breuna, Germany. Using laminated veneer lumber (LVL) as a material is more sustainable than current materials and enables noticeably better recycling of decommissioned blades, a high level of automation, and more flexibility.

Related article: The race to make zero-waste wind turbine blades

Standard wind turbine blades are made of fiberglass and carbon fibre bound together with epoxy resin—a material that is difficult and expensive to break down. While up to 90% of wind turbines are recyclable, the blades are currently not.

“At the end of their lifecycle, most blades are buried in the ground or incinerated. This means that—at this pace—we will end up with 50 million tonnes of blade material waste by 2050. With our solution, we want to help green energy truly become as green as possible,” Voodin Blade Technology CEO Tom Siekmann explains.

Voodin Blade Technology’s wooden wind turbine blades are made of LVL. Wood is a much more sustainable raw material than the currently used composite materials.

The company uses CNC milling machines that are particularly effective in creating complex 3D shapes. This allows for a high level of automation, as no mold is needed in the manufacturing plants.

By increasing the level of automation, the need for labor decreases. As a result, manufacturing does not need to be done in countries with lower labor costs, where it is currently often done. This then means that production is also possible closer to the wind farms, allowing transportation costs and emissions caused by transportation to be reduced.

Furthermore, wood, and especially LVL, are highly durable materials; even more durable than the currently used composite materials. Voodin Blade Technology has conducted laboratory testing to ensure the material will thrive in even the toughest conditions of onshore wind energy production, which takes up approximately 85% of the current wind energy sector.

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“We have conducted hundreds of laboratory tests during the past two years to perfect the blade material. According to all our tests, our blades are even more durable than the existing fiberglass blades, as they show fewer fatigue characteristics and are proven to endure all kinds of onshore weather conditions extremely well,” Voodin Blade Technology co-founder Jorge Castillo says.

The company is building new prototypes, including bigger 60m and 80m blades, as a next step.

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Related article: Gippsland officially named Australia’s first offshore wind zone

Six proposed offshore wind projects have been awarded feasibility licences, including High Sea Wind, Gippsland Skies, Blue Mackerel North, Kut-Wut Brataualung, Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 (Gippsland 01), and Star of the South (SOTS).

Six more companies have progressed through assessment and will now undertake First Nations consultation. They are Iberdrola Australia OW 2 (Aurora Green), Greater Gippsland 2 OWP Project (Gippsland Dawn), Navigator North Project, Ørsted Offshore Australia 1 (Gippsland 02), Kent Offshore Wind, and Great Eastern Offshore Wind Farm Project Co.

The government said the feasibility licence application process was highly competitive, with 37 applications received.

The Offshore Infrastructure Registrar assessed all applications against the merit criteria set out in the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021. The merit criteria includes:

• technical and financial capability
• likely project viability
• applicant suitability, and
• the national interest.

The declared area off Gippsland covers approximately 15,000 square kilometres. It is offshore of Lakes Entrance in the east, to south of Wilsons Promontory in the west.

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The Gippsland area is one of six priority areas identified for offshore wind development in Australian Commonwealth waters.

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Related article: Ark Energy withdraws plans for Western Plains Wind Farm

The final proposal involved 42 wind turbines with an expected generation capacity of almost 300MW to be located on Wooroora Station, a cattle-grazing property near Ravenshoe in the Atherton Tablelands region of north Queensland. The property, which already contains a substation and high-voltage powerlines, is near national parks that form part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area.

The proposal was referred to DCCEEW for review under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in July 2021 and had been in the federal environmental assessment process for almost three years.

Over that time it had been granted development consent by the Queensland Government, gone through two major redesigns to reduce environmental impacts and DCCEEW had extended the due date for its decision five times, the latest extending the date to 25 June 2024.

Ark Energy project lead and acting general manager development Queensland Damian Vermey said, “After consideration we decided to withdraw the referral. A massive effort was made over many years to evolve a proposal that we believed offered significant benefits and environmental net gains, but we acknowledge others may have a different view.

“We remain proud of all the work that was done to minimise environmental impacts as well as the proposal’s industry-leading commitments to provide conservation benefits, net positive environmental outcomes, and meaningful benefits for the Traditional Owners and local community.

“We appreciate this outcome is also disappointing for all those supporters who were looking forward to the project, including the Traditional Owners, community members and local businesses.

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“We sincerely thank the many stakeholders we have worked with over the course of this project, including environment organisations that helped guide design improvements, and of course all those who showed support for the project.”

Ark Energy also withdrew plans for its 50.4MW Western Plains Wind Farm in Tasmania in late October 2023, saying it would instead focus on developing larger utility-scale wind projects.

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