The $180 million Emu Downs Wind Farm at Badgingarra has received the go ahead following final board approvals from the project partners to commence construction.
The 80-megawatt project is being developed by Griffin Energy, a subsidiary of Western Australian-based Griffin Group, and Stanwell Corporation, which is owned by the Queensland Government.
The project, which is planned to be operational by late 2006, is expected to provide enough ‘green energy’ to power more than 50,000 homes annually, displacing the emission of 220,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
Griffin Energy executive general manager of Power Generation, Wayne Trumble, said Emu Downs was an innovative and sustainable approach to achieving Western Australia’s future energy requirements.
“The project is committed to sourcing labour and services locally where possible, and will create new training opportunities within the Shire of Dandaragan,” he said.
“The local community will benefit from direct and indirect employment opportunities during the life of the project, and will also enjoy longer-term benefits from new regional tourism opportunities.”
The wind farm will comprise 48 turbines with the capacity to generate 1.65MW each. It will be located 200 kilometres north of Perth at Badgingarra and will take 16 months to build.
Electricity from the wind farm will be bought by Western Power for sale to WA customers.
The joint development will adopt commercial sources of project-based finance to fund the project, using minimal equity, the partners said.
Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems will supply the turbines for the plant. The order consists of delivery, installation and commissioning, a remote control system as well as a two-year service and maintenance agreement.
The state government said the new wind farm will help it reach renewable energy targets.
