A decade ago the concept of mixing wind turbines with tree plantations was unheard of in Australia, but a new addition to the federal EPBC queue now brings the current total of such project proposals to at least eight.
Spanish energy giant Iberdrola is seeking approval for 33 turbines in the Mullions Range softwood pine plantation in New South Wales (NSW), which deliver 248 megawatts (MW) of capacity, and which is one of two forestry projects it’s pitching in the state.
The project is located about 20 km north of Orange and is one of five solicited by the state’s Forestry Corporation in 2023.
Forestry Corp issued an “investigation permit” in 2024, and if the project proves feasible Iberdrola expects it to take around six years to deliver.
The EPBC referral shows Iberdrola is planning to install turbines with a tip height of up to 250 metres above ground level and a hub height of 150m above ground level.
