Portland Wind Farm | |
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Wind farm out of Port Fairy on the Portland Road
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Country | Australia |
Location | Portland, Victoria |
Coordinates | 38°21′8.74″S 141°35′14.4″E / 38.3524278°S 141.587333°ECoordinates: 38°21′8.74″S 141°35′14.4″E / 38.3524278°S 141.587333°E |
Status | Operational |
Commission date | 2010 |
Construction cost | A$330 million |
Power generation | |
Units operational | 98 |
Make and model | Vestas |
Nameplate capacity | 195 MW |
The Portland wind farm is one of Australia's largest wind farms. Located on the coast of south-western Victoria near the city of Portland, it consists of four separate sites, of which three have been completed. Completion of the entire 195 MW project is expected in 2011, at a capital cost of 330 million Australian dollars.
The project is expected to produce more than 500 GWh annually, enough electricity to power about 125,000 homes each year, and equal to more than 7% of Victoria’s residential electricity demand, or powering a city the size of Geelong. The project is being developed by Pacific Hydro.
The Danish turbine manufacturer, Vestas, constructed a blade manufacturing facility at nearby Portland in August 2005. Blades from the plant were intended to support the project. Blades were ultimately sourced from overseas however, and the plant was closed down in December 2007. Vestas cited too little investment support from the Federal government as the reason for the closure.
The planning minister approved the construction of wind towers on the Portland capes, including Cape Bridgewater, against the recommendations of the a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing and of a government appointed panel.