Onshore Wind Powers EV Road Trip

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When my mate Gary decided to do a road trip in his Model Y, he didn’t realise how much onshore wind power he would run into. After a couple of articles on Big Batteries Down Under, I thought that it might be refreshing to have a look at the progress on wind power. And what better way than with an electric vehicle road trip.

It looks like construction has already started on the Warracknabeal Energy Park Wind Farm in rural Victoria where we see Gary parked in front of a blade. Eventually, this wind farm will consist of 219 turbines and have an installed capacity of approximately 1,650 MW. A BESS is expected to be installed on site.

Gary paused at two other wind farms and tells me “on the day it was quite overcast, and only 3 of the over 30 turbines I could see were turning. Others I saw today near Ballarat were all turning. The winds were 14 to 16 km/h. I expect that afternoon they would have all started up.”

As I sit at my computer on this spring morning in Brisbane, it is good to know that wind turbines are turning and are supplying 4.2 GW of energy into the Australian east coast grid. You can check out the graphic below.

Meanwhile, back in Queensland, Gary’s (and my) home state, Andrew Forrest has achieved another milestone this year, the completion of Australia’s biggest commissioned wind farm. His Squadron Energy has opened stage one of the Clarke Creek Wind farm between Rockhampton and Mackay. The farm boasts impressive stats — 100 turbines, 450 MW, enough to power 330,000 homes and avoid 738,000 tones of CO2.

Squadron is ensuring its social licence by contributing back to the local community. All businesses and households within 20 km will receive an electricity rebate of AU$1000 per year. That’s an astute decision. I hope other developers follow this example. There would certainly be fewer delay-producing objections.

“Renewable energy is now the cheapest form of power on Earth — and the more we make of it, firmed with batteries, the cheaper it becomes. That’s why I’ll keep investing and doubling down on green energy,” said Squadron Energy owner Dr Andrew Forrest AO.

“Projects like this show that renewables aren’t just good for our planet — they’re good economics. They lower power bills, strengthen our energy system, and keep jobs and investment in regional communities.

“Clarke Creek reinforces that Australia’s energy transition is unstoppable. Stage Two, now in advanced planning, will be even larger – delivering more green power, more jobs, and more benefits for Queenslanders.”

Squadron Energy owner Nicola Forrest AO said: “Renewable energy companies must be more than producers of power – they must be genuine partners in the communities they operate in, contributing beyond the grid.

“Squadron Energy’s long-term community fund is part of that promise – supporting local schools, health programs and regional initiatives such as upgrades for the Clarke Creek Campdraft and State School, scholarships for students, and programs supporting local women through Rural Women’s Day. It shows that the pathway to clean energy can also build stronger, more connected communities.”

State-owned Stanwell has agreed to purchase 75 percent of the clean energy generated from the first stage of Clarke Creek Wind Farm over the next 15 years to provide to its customers. Stage two of Clarke Creek will add another 88 turbines, powering another 390,000 homes and avoiding a further 542,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

On the other side of the country, Fortescue Metals is proposing a 200-turbine, 2 GW project in West Australia’s iron-ore-rich Pilbara. This is part of Forrest’s plans to make his mining operations achieve “real zero” by 2030. This lofty aim will require nearly 3 GW of wind and solar as well as battery storage to enable the electrification of mining operations and logistics.

In an intriguing twist, the proposed Bonney Downs Wind Farm will be situated near the town of Nullagine and near the company’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine site. Transmission infrastructure will “impact” on the Roy Hill pastoral lease, owned by “avowed renewables opponent, and fellow iron ore magnate, Gina Rinehart.” Gina is Australia’s richest person, with Andrew Forrest coming a close second.

Representatives of the two mining billionaires are consulting. Wouldn’t mind being a fly on that wall. More news as it comes in.

South Australia is a pioneer in renewables and has proven critics wrong time and time again, developing a resilient grid based on wind and solar. Currently, the SA grid is 90% solar and wind, with 10% of power coming from gas. Their newest and largest wind farm (Goyder South) is now providing its full capacity of 412 MW.

“Goyder South is expected to generate 1.5 TWh of renewable energy annually. This contribution is set to boost wind generation in South Australia by more than 20%, supporting the State towards its target of 100% net renewables generation by 2027.”

Neoen, owner of the wind farm, is selling 100 MW of its capacity to the Australian Capital Territory government for just $AU 44.97 per megawatt hour. According to RenewEconomy, this is the lowest publicly announced feed-in tariff in Australia. Goyder South also delivers $250,000 a year in community programs. The next stage of the Goyder Renewables Zone will include Goyder North. This will expand the project to more than 1 GW of wind capacity and up to 900 MW and 3,600 MWh of battery storage.

Can hosting a wind farm increase a farmer’s income and increase the value of their properties? It appears so. Here is the story of Charlie Press, a fourth-generation farmer, and now the chair of the Farmers for Climate Action lobby group. He recently sold his farm, which is under the Crookwell 2 Wind Farm in Victoria. He is being interviewed at the base of a wind turbine on his property.

After a drought in the 1980s and then a crash in the price of wool in the 1990s, the farm was struggling financially. So, when the family was approached about hosting wind turbines, they grabbed the lifeline with both hands. One of Charlie’s neighbours had already been hosting some turbines for a number of years. They were aware of the possibility that this could save them from bankruptcy.

Charlie tells it like it is: “We were just starting to go into the millennium drought … and we knew that we were staring bankruptcy in the face … I was married 15 years, I had two teenage children, my wife and I were both struggling with mental health, depression.” They ended up having to sell part of the farm to keep the banks happy.

Community opposition was fuelled by misinformation and the fact that nearby landowners were not getting paid. However, 18 turbines were installed and the majority of the farm was saved. You can read the transcript or listen to the interview here.

“When he sold his farm in 2023, Charlie advertised the 2000 acre farm as coming with about $220,000 in annual rental income from 18 turbines for the Crookwell 2 wind farm. Prell believes, and his real estate agent has agreed, that the turbines added up to an extra $1.5 million to the final sale price of $12.5 million for the property.” It appears that now, some rural properties which are not yet hosting turbines are being advertised as having wind farm potential. There is some evidence that property values go down during construction, but rise as the wind farm starts producing an income.

Money talks, and when it is shared around a community, it talks even louder. Despite the climate wars instigated by the conservatives, wind farms are proliferating and individuals, communities, and the climate are benefitting. Here’s to a bright and windy future!