Woolnorth Wind Farm (Stage 1)

Grid-connected, distributed generation, renewables
Location: Woolnorth, TAS

The site

The Woolnorth Wind Farm is located in the north-west of Tasmania on the vast dairying and cattle Woolnorth property by the coast. Hydro Tasmania used meso-scale modelling combined with GIS mapping of topography and infrastructure to select the site. To estimate the wind resource at Woolnorth, 50 m and 70 m wind monitoring towers were erected on the proposed site. The wind data from these towers was correlated with 13 years of wind data from a nearby atmospheric research station.

In 1998, preliminary discussions were held with the landowner, Van Diemens Land Pty Ltd.

By July 1999, this landowner had agreed to sell 3000 ha of land to Hydro Tasmania. The landowner now leases the land from Hydro Tasmania to continue its previous agricultural activities.

How the farm operates

Woolnorth will be developed in stages. The first stage (completed) consists of six turbines (10.5 MW) in the northern section of the site, connected to a 22 kV line. The second stage will consist of an additional 31 turbines (54 MW). The final stage will consist of 42 turbines (73.5 MW), located 15 km to the south, giving a total of 79 turbines and an installed capacity of 138 MW.

Electricity transmission

The wind farm is connected to the Smithton Substation via a dedicated 46 km 22kV distribution line. This line is temporary and will be superseded by a 110 kV transmission line developed as part of Stage 2. The power from Stage 1 will be utilised by the Smithton township and transmitted further into the network at times when the local load is low.

The Woolnorth wind farm will generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and electricity will be sold to the power retailer of Tasmania, Aurora Energy.

Environmental impact of the farm

As part of the preparation for the Woolnorth wind farm development, Hydro Tasmania spent three years undertaking a comprehensive Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan covering all environmental matters associated with developing a wind farm. The species of birds on site were thoroughly examined, including modelling the potential risk of bird collisions with wind turbines and developing management strategies to minimise the risk of bird collisions. These studies concentrated on the Orange-bellied Parrot and Wedge-tailed Eagles but other species have also been considered as a matter of best practice. The studies revealed that Orange-bellied Parrots rarely use the site where the wind farm will be built. To further minimise any potential collision risk, Hydro Tasmania developed detailed vegetation management plans to attract Orange-bellied Parrots to areas away from the turbines. Hydro Tasmania also relocated wind turbines away from the nest sites of Wedge-tailed Eagles and White-bellied Sea Eagles, in accordance with stipulated buffer zones.