Largest wind farm in Australia starts commissioning phase

The largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, 527 Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Australia, has reached a significant milestone and connected the first wind turbine to the Victorian transmission network and started generating electricity.

The Wind Farm has installed 90 Goldwind 3S turbines to date of the 149 total. The first of the project’s three substations has been energized, enabling turbines to be commissioned and energy generation into the national electricity grid for the first time. The remaining two substations are expected to be fully commissioned and energized in June.

Goldwind Australia’s Managing Director, Mr. John Titchen, said this was a significant milestone for the project which once fully operational will power more than 425,000 Victorian homes.

He commented, “The project’s size has at times proved challenging during construction, not only in constructing the wind farm infrastructure, but also constructing the 75-kilometer 132 kV multi duplex powerline and the Haunted Gully Terminal Station, which connects the project into the national energy grid. The highly focused team has worked collaboratively with project stakeholders to overcome these challenges and remain on schedule. The team has adapted well to managing risk during this difficult time and continues to make good progress.”

Construction of Stockyard Hill Wind Farm commenced in May 2018 and has hired more than 400 employees and contractors on-site during stages of construction, including many local Australian companies.

Goldwind Australia (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology) and investment partner Nebras Power Q.P.S.C. anticipate the project will be fully operational in late 2020.