Capital Wind Farm | |
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Country | Australia |
Location | 30 km (19 mi) north east of Canberra |
Coordinates | 35°08′45″S 149°34′02″E / 35.1458°S 149.5671°ECoordinates: 35°08′45″S 149°34′02″E / 35.1458°S 149.5671°E |
Status | Operating |
Construction began | Early 2008 |
Construction cost | A$370 million |
Owner(s) | Infigen Energy |
Operator(s) | Infigen Energy |
Wind farm | |
Type | onshore |
Site usage | Farming |
Hub height | 80 metres |
Rotor diameter | 88 metres |
Power generation | |
Units operational | 67 |
Make and model | Suzlon S88 |
Nameplate capacity | 140.7 MW |
Website http://www.infigenenergy.com |
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The Capital Wind Farm near Bungendore is the largest wind farm in New South Wales. It is part of the 6,000-hectare (15,000-acre) Capital Renewable Energy Precinct, along with nearby Woodlawn Wind Farm and the Capital East Solar Demonstration Plant.
Capital Wind Farm was built by international contractors Suzlon Energy for owner and operator Infigen Energy. Construction began in early 2008, and the wind farm became fully operational in October 2009. It is a 140.7 megawatt wind farm with 67 turbines.
The Capital Wind Farm is around 30 kilometres (19 mi) north east of Canberra, just southeast of Lake George and north of Bungendore. It is located in open farming country, with minimal obstructions in the landscape and smooth topography.
The Capital Wind Farm was built for Infigen Energy by Suzlon Energy. It was constructed as part of the Kurnell Desalination Plant project to offset the power usage of the desalination plant.
"The wind farm has been designed to produce more than enough energy to operate the desalination plant to cover the days when there is less wind. It will increase the supply of wind energy in NSW by over 700%. It is a massive boost to the renewable energy sector and an environmentally sensible way to offset the power needs of the desalination plant." [1]
The wind farm was completed in October 2009 at a cost estimated between A$220 million and A$370 million. It was opened by the Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, in November 2009.
Since the wind farm was established, the population of nearby Bungendore has increased by 24 per cent, which the Clean Energy Council has claimed is because of its proximity to the wind farm.