Australia, Policy, Projects, Renewables

Government approves mega SA wind farm

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The Federal Government has given the green light to a new wind farm project in South Australia.

The Palmer Wind Farm, to be developed by Tilt Renewables, is set to generate 288 megawatts of power, will be located between the townships of Palmer and Tungkillo, 50 kilometres east of Adelaide.

The project will involve the installation of 40 wind turbines, a significant reduction from the initially approved 103 turbines.

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water said projects like this are vital to boosting renewables capacity and putting downward pressure on prices, but they are also great for local jobs and economies as this project will support up to 220 direct jobs in construction and up to five ongoing jobs.

This change in design, made possible by recent advances in turbine technology, will allow for larger setbacks from existing dwellings and reduce the project area by over 5000 hectares while still generating enough clean energy to power up to 144,000 South Australian homes.

Environmental benefits of the wind farm are substantial. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 212,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, comparable to removing more than 65,000 cars from the road annually.

“I’ve ticked off more than 55 renewable energy projects in two years – more than the Abbott and Turnbull Governments combined and enough to power more than three million Australian homes,” Plibersek said.

“Those renewable energy projects give us more electricity in the two years we have been in office than seven large reactors would produce.

“Not only are we delivering cheaper cleaner power sooner, but we are on track to reaching our 2030 emissions target.”

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