Turbines approved

It is is said to be one of the biggest wind farms in NSW.

The wind farm’s main base will be located near Jerilderie, but wind turbines measuring up to 270m will also be built in Edward River.

The network would be located near the localities of Moonbria and Mabins Well, in an area zoned RU1 – Primary Production under the Conargo Local Environmental Plan 2013 and Jerilderie Local Environmental Plan 2012.

The wind farm is identified to have eight host landholders across the footprint, with five rural residential dwellings within the project area.

The nearest neighbouring dwelling is about 3.7km from the nearest turbine.

Project participation agreements are being offered to all dwellings within 8km of the turbines.

The project, which has been going through the approvals process since 2021, is expected to generate enough “clean, renewable energy” to power up to 700,000 homes a year.

The 1500-megawatt wind farm will be developed by Virya Energy about 10km north-west of Jerilderie.

The total project area will span about 33,000 hectares across Murrumbidgee and Edward River.

Each of the 208 wind turbines will have a maximum tip height of 270m, an 800 megawatt battery energy storage facility and grid connection infrastructure.

In announcing the determination, the NSW Government said public exhibition of the project’s environmental impact statement saw overall support.

There were no public objections to the project during this time.

The Department of Planning and Environment has been engaging closely with local councils, residents and government agencies.

Potential impacts will be managed through strict conditions including road upgrades and maintenance, implementation of management plans and a range of mitigation and adaptive management measures.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said clean energy is only one benefit of the program.

She said it would mean more jobs and local investment, and bring NSW “another step closer to achieving our Net Zero targets”.

“Over the next decade, three of the four remaining coal fired generators in New South Wales are scheduled to retire, removing around 7,400 megawatts of dispatchable electricity generation from the system.

“Renewable energy developments like this one in the South West Renewable Energy Zone are critical to our energy future, so we can ensure there is enough renewable energy to replace ageing coal-fired power stations.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said local residents and stakeholders have played a vital role in the work to get this project over the line.

“It is set to deliver positive local benefits including up to 300 jobs in construction and 30 jobs in operation,” he said.

“208 wind turbines producing around 1500 megawatts is more than the entire generating capacity of the Mt Piper coal fired power station near Lithgow, west of the Blue Mountains.”

Power is generated when wind turns the blades of a rotor, which is connected to a gear box via a low-speed shaft.

The gearbox is connected to a generator via a high-speed shaft which rotates to produce electricity.

Transformers convert this electricity from low to high voltage, which is then transmitted via supporting electrical infrastructure such as transmission line to the substation and then a terminal station.

The development of the Yanco Delta Wind Farm is a long term project, with a final investment decision and construction commencement not expected until 2025/2026.

The construction and commissioning period will generally take around two to three years, and once commissioned the operational life of a wind turbine is currently around 30 years.