The Canunda Wind Farm in South Australia has reached its 20-year milestone, with ENGIE and turbine manufacturer Vestas announcing a 10-year extension to the project’s operational life.
Located near Millicent and Mount Gambier, the 46 megawatts wind farm was commissioned in 2005 and has since contributed to South Australia’s renewable energy mix.
A life extension assessment conducted by ENGIE and Vestas determined that the wind farm could continue operating until 2035, beyond its initial 20-year lifespan.
“ENGIE’s Canunda Wind Farm was commissioned on 30 March 2005, making it one of the oldest in South Australia, and it has been a cornerstone of renewable energy for nearly two decades,” Laura Caspari, ENGIE’s Managing Director of Renewables said.
“Rather than retire the project, we’ve been able to push its operational lifespan to 2035. This extension means ten more years of clean energy for South Australia’s grid and continued contributions to ENGIE’s renewable energy goals.”
Vestas, which supplied the wind turbines for Canunda, welcomed the milestone.
“Vestas is incredibly proud to mark the 20-year milestone of the Canunda Wind Farm, highlighted by a further 10-year contract extension,” Danny Nielsen, SVP Country Head for Vestas Australia & New Zealand said.
“This achievement speaks to the enduring strength and innovation of our world-class wind turbines, which have been powering the future of Australia’s clean energy for decades.”
When commissioned, Canunda’s 23 turbines — each with a capacity of 2MW — were among the largest in Australia at the time.
The project required the use of the country’s biggest 600-tonne crane for installation.
Some of the original installation and service crew remain on-site after 20 years, highlighting the long-term employment benefits of the wind farm.
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