Commissioning of the $105 million 15-turbine Salt Creek Wind Farm at Woorndoo north of Mortlake has begun with the first turbine turning and transmission lines energised.
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The wind farm’s owner, Tilt Renewables, said commissioning of the turbines would continue over the next month, during which a number of tests would be done to ensure the farm operates smoothly.
It said regular compliance testing would be undertaken during its first 12 months of operation, including environmental and noise compliance.
The wind farm will produce about 172GWh of renewable energy each year, powering more than 30,000 homes. It connects to the national electricity grid through a 50.5 kilometre-long 66kV powerline to the Terang Terminal Station.
The farm’s turbines are 150 metres in height to the tip of the turbines’ blades, the tallest so far in Moyne Shire.
The project created 106 full-time jobs during its 12-month construction period and was 14 years in development.
Tilt Renewables is an Australasian electricity generation company and the Salt Creek wind farm is its first completed project in Australia since it de-merged from New Zealand electricity company, Trustpower, in 2016.
Tilt Renewables also has planning approval to build a wind farm at Dundonnell, east of Woorndoo.
The $600 million Dundonnell wind farm will involve 88 turbines that will be 189 metres high.
They will be the tallest turbines so far planned for the south-west and more than three times the height of the West Gate bridge.
The Dundonnell farm will connect to the electricity grid at the Mortlake power station.
Tilt Renewables has said it had submitted a bid for the Dundonnell Wind Farm to be part of the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme.
It said if its bid was successful, construction on the project could start before the end of the year.