About the scheme
Why has the Certified Wind Farms Australia (CWFA) Scheme been developed?
The CWFA Scheme was developed in response to challenges faced by the Australian wind energy industry in the areas of environmental planning and development approvals, legal compliance, environmental management, and social and amenity concerns.
The Scheme provides a mechanism for participants to independently demonstrate, by external auditors, that they are following best practice including the Clean Energy Council Best Practice Guidelines.
What is the scope of the CWFA Scheme?
Its scope includes both site planning (from site selection to development application), and site operations (construction, operations and decommissioning). The accreditation scheme covers best practice in environmental, social and amenity issues for the planning and operation phases of a wind farm development.
The scheme excludes technical and commercial considerations (including wind speed, infrastructure, electrical connections and economic viability), except where there is an interface with environmental, amenity and stakeholder consultation aspects.
The Scheme is based on the principles of the widely accepted Internal Standard, ISO 14001:2004 - Environmental Management Systems.
How many types of Accreditation are available?
Accreditation to the scheme will be available for the following categories:
- Planning
- Operations
- Planning and Operations
How does the Scheme deal with changes in best practice / legislation etc?
The Scheme includes a process of continual improvement from the auditing process which will result in an update process for the Clean Energy Council Best Practice Guidelines.
Improvements to other aspects of the Scheme will also be sought from the Certification Bodies and participants.
Components of the scheme (e.g. legal registers), will be revised and updated annually.
Who is eligible for participation in the scheme?
The Scheme is primarily designed for planners, developers and operators of wind farms, and their main contractors (e.g. planners, construction and maintenance), where their activities interface with the environmental, social, amenity and stakeholder consultation issues, as defined within the Clean Energy Council Best Practice Guidelines.
Clean Energy Council will review the eligibility of others in the industry and the means for their assessment prior to acceptance of their application (see application).
