Plans for a potentially massive new wind farm in Tasmania have started the process of federal environmental assessment, seeking approval to install up to 280 turbines in the island state’s North West renewable energy zone.
According to documents referred for assessment under the EPBC Act on Friday, the Whaleback Ridge wind farm is being proposed by local developer Westcoast Renewable Energy as a phased project of up to 2,800 megawatt (MW), or 2.8 gigawatt (GW).
The project documentsbut starting with a 288 – 432 MW first phase.
The referral says the project will have up to 280 turbines, each with a generating capacity of up to 10 MW, with a hub height of up to 180 metres and a maximum tip height of up to 250 metres.
These would be the most powerful in Australia, beating the 8 MW turbines currently being installed at the Nullagine and Narrogin wind projects in Western Australia.
