West Coast wind farm ready to fly

ANOTHER wind farm in Tasmania’s West has moved a step closer to producing energy as the state reinforces its reputation as the nation’s renewable energy capital.

The proponent of the Granville Harbour wind farm, West Coast Wind, has signed an inprinciple deal with Hydro Tasmania to buy the electricity it will produce at its 33-turbine operation.

The $280 million wind venture, first proposed 14 years ago, could be producing power by March, 2019.

The announcement comes on the back of news that construction of the Cattle Hill wind farm in the Central Highlands will start this year and that plans for a wind project on Robbins Island, near Stanley, are progressing.

Under the latest agreement, Hydro Tasmania will buy about 360 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy and renewable energy certificates from West Coast Wind a year.

The farm would connect to the network at Reece Power Station.

Energy Minister Matthew Groom said the deal would fur- ther reinforce Tasmania’s renewable energy reputation.

“Combined, the Granville Harbour and Cattle Hill wind farms will produce enough electricity to power 100,000 homes,” Mr Groom said.

West Coast Wind director Alex Simpson said it was fantastic to see a vision formed 14 years ago by the Smith family on their cattle farm near Zeehan move toward reality.

“Our focus now shifts to reaching financial close on the project,” Mr Simpson said.

He said investors were “champing on the bit” to get involved.

“Ideally, we would like to start construction in September and have towers up in the second quarter of next year.”

Tasmanian wind farm builder Project E, which constructed Hydro Tasmania’s Musselroe wind farm, is the preferred proponent to build the Granville Harbour farm.

Hydro Tasmania chief executive Steve Davy said the in-principle agreement was a significant milestone.

“The proposed Granville Harbour and Cattle Hill wind farms contribute towards plans to make Tasmania the battery of the nation as we continue to work on our studies into additional hydropower and pumped storage capacity,” Mr Davy said.

The in-principle agreement remains subject to technical and commercial conditions.