Project Details

Wandoo Wind Farm is located near Wannamal, approximately 30kms North of Bindoon and 50kms South of Moora. The 450+MW wind farm will be one of the largest wind farms in Western Australia once constructed. The wind farm is expected to produce enough electricity to power ~250,000 Western Australian homes, offsetting ~0.8 million tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere annually.

Key Project Information

450+MW
Anticipated Generation Capacity
1.5TWh
Anticipated Annual Energy Generation
250,000
Anticipated Equivalent Homes Supplied 1
~0.8Mt
Anticipated Annual CO2 Abatement 2

1 – Based on mean average household electricity usage (couples with children) of 17kWh/day sourced from CSIRO Energise Insight released December 2018
2 – Based on average 2023 emissions intensity of SWIS of 0.53kg CO2-e/kWh sourced from Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors, August 2023
** Preliminary metrics, subject to refinement and change.

Project Timeline

Site Identification
Feasibility
Early Development

1-2 Years

Late Development

2-7 Years

Financing
Construction

2 Years

Operations

30+ Years

Decommissioning

~1 Year

Components of Wandoo Wind Farm

Anticipated number of turbines

up to 75

Wind turbine capacity

up to 8MW

Anticipated generation capacity

450+MW

Length of blades

up to 90m

Height of tower

up to 170m

Electricity cables

buried 1m underground

Anticipated annual CO2 abatement2

up to 0.8 million tonnes

Transmission voltage

330kV or 500kV

Cable voltage

33kV

Anticipated annual energy generation

up to 1.5TWh

Site Identification

Prospective wind farm sites are selected based on analysis of available wind resource information, proximity to the existing high voltage electricity grid, population density in the area, existing land use, and an assessment of likely site constraints and opportunities.

Feasibility

Discussions with potential host landowners begin, along with on site wind monitoring. Grid connection enquiries are lodged with Western Power, and further desktop studies are completed to better understand the suitability of the site.

Early Development

Land agreements are secured with host landowners, and community consultation begins with neighbour properties. Wind monitoring masts are erected, and environmental surveys commence to support the approval process.

Late Development

Development and environmental approval referrals are now submitted. Community consultation and engagement activities continue, while grid connection studies are undertaken, and contracts are negotiated for a lead contractor to build the wind farm.

Financing

Contracts are negotiated for customers to purchase the electricity from the facility and, where necessary, third-party financiers are brought into the project.

Construction

Early works begin with access roads and site construction compounds. This is followed by turbine foundation excavation and construction, cable laying, substation and transmission line construction. Finally, the wind turbines are assembled and commissioned. Community engagement activities continue.

Operations

The wind farm is now in operation for the next 30 years in accordance with approval conditions. Compliance with approvals and management plans are monitored and reported throughout the wind farms life.

Decommissioning

At the end of the wind farm life, the wind farm is decommissioned and all above ground infrastructure is removed. Opportunities to repower the site with a new wind farm are explored at this stage. If no further wind farm is developed and built, the land is returned to its original use.