The Bulgana Green Power Hub continues to take shape, with all 56 wind turbines now constructed and in place.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The power hub, located in Landsborough, 11 kilometres north-east of Stawell, will be an integrated wind farm and battery storage facility for owner-operator Neoen's largest single-stage project in Australia.
Installation of the turbines began in February 2019.
Over the next three weeks plant equipment will be demobilized from the site.
Once the plant has been removed, there will be a significant reduction of traffic movement on the roads surrounding the wind farm.
Northern Grampians Shire stated road maintenance will then become a high priority for both council and the Bulgana Wind Farm, who will work together to make sure that work is completed to a satisfactory standard.
Testing of the wind turbines will also commence soon.
The council stated it would provide updates on the testing once it was made aware of them.
Once up and running, the facility will generate over 740,000 MWh of renewable energy per annum.
Commissioning of the Bulgana Wind Farm is hoped for mid-October, which will then kick start the next steps of the Bulgana Green Power Hub transforming into the Nectar Farms glasshouse, which is currently awaiting the first stage building permit from the council.
Nectar Farms has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement for the supply of energy for its new 30-hectare glasshouse.
Related: Wind farm to power glasshouse
Construction on the $350 million development began in May 2018, and Northern Grampians Shire Mayor Kevin Erwin said the project had come a long way since then.
"It's very exciting to see the next stage of the project completed with all wind turbines now constructed," Cr Erwin said.
"Neoen have been really great to work with throughout the whole process and we look forward to the upcoming commissioning of the Bulgana Wind Farm later this year."
Neoen also established a $120,000 per year Bulgana Green Power Hub in early 2018, and it is still taking applications from community groups to fund their projects.
No one was available from Bulgana Green Power Hub to make comment on the progress of the works.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.