Pacific Hydro’s Codrington wind farm is powering along after its mid-life check-up.
VICTORIA’S first wind farm at Codrington has passed its mid-life checks and been cleared to continue generating electricity for another decade or more.
The 14-turbine facility adjacent to the Princes Highway has generated more than 495,590 megawatt hours of power since 2001, the equivalent of about 8000 homes a year, according to its owner Pacific Hydro.
It has a contract lifespan of about 25 years before either being decommissioned, continued with new permits for existing components or installing new machines.
When built, Codrington boasted the first privately-built wind farm in Australia and for Pacific Hydro.
Company general manager Lane Crockett said the review and upgrade of some components within turbines would increase efficiency.
“Despite the harsh coastal environment that the project is located in, the health check showed it is performing in accordance with our expectation,” he said. “Ten years of operations has ensured that the Codrington wind farm is well and truly part of the local community.
“Tours run by local residents Tim and Carmel Brady continue to this day, enabling thousands of visitors to get first-hand experience of the wind farm. The Codrington and Yambuk Sustainable Communities Fund, which returns a portion of revenue from the project’s operation back into the local community, has contributed $386,380 into 93 projects in the local area.”
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