Capital Wind Farm

{{Infobox power station

| name = Capital Wind Farm

| name_official =

| image =

| image_caption = Capital Wind Farm

| image_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|35.1458|S|149.5671|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=inline,title}}

| country = Australia

| location = {{convert|30|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north east of Canberra

| status = O

| construction_began = Early 2008

| commissioned = October 2009

| decommissioned =

| cost = A$370 million{{cite web|title=Wind turbines sprout, bring a change of heart |url=http://www.stockandland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-turbines-sprout-bring-a-change-of-heart/1394694.aspx?storypage=0 |work=The Canberra Times|access-date=31 March 2013 |author=Megan Doherty |date=24 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331093601/http://www.stockandland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-turbines-sprout-bring-a-change-of-heart/1394694.aspx?storypage=0 |archive-date=31 March 2013 }}

| owner = Infigen Energy

| operator = Infigen Energy

| ps_units_operational = 67 × 2.1 MW

| ps_units_manu_model = Suzlon S88

| wind_hub_height = {{convert|80|m|ft|0}}

| wind_rotor_diameter = {{convert|88|m|ft|0}}

| wind_rated_speed =

| wind_farm_type = Onshore

| ps_site_elevation =

| wind_site_usage = Farming

| ps_site_area = {{convert|35|km2|ha|0}}

| ps_electrical_capacity = 140.7

| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 27.88% (average 2011-2020)

| ps_annual_generation = 343.66 GWh (average 2011-2020)

| website = {{URL|http://www.infigenenergy.com}}

| extra =

}}

The Capital Wind Farm near Bungendore is the largest wind farm in New South Wales. It is part of the {{convert|6000|ha|acre|adj=on}} 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.

In 2009, the project was expected to have a capacity factor of 35.8%,{{Cite web|date=19 November 2009|title=PRESENTATION TO ANALYSTS AT THE CAPITAL WIND FARM|url=https://www.infigen.net/assets/Documents/091119-Presentation-to-analysts-at-the-Capital-Wind-Farm-7065a53c-cc94-48a3-894f-907285b59d2c-0-1.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2021|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010204819/https://www.infigen.net/assets/Documents/091119-Presentation-to-analysts-at-the-Capital-Wind-Farm-7065a53c-cc94-48a3-894f-907285b59d2c-0-1.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2021 }} and thus generate on average 441 GWh of energy per year. However, from 2011 to 2020 it ran at an average of 27.88% capacity factor, with a corresponding annual generation of 343.66 GWh.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

Location

The Capital Wind Farm is around {{convert|30|km}} 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.{{cite web|title=The Capital Wind Farm|url=http://www.infigenenergy.com/Media/docs/Capital-Wind-Farm-Brochure-fb268c8e-e14b-4c44-8d95-e8ec2a23e31a-0.pdf|publisher=Infigen Energy|access-date=31 March 2013|author=Infigen Energy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423153701/http://www.infigenenergy.com/Media/docs/Capital-Wind-Farm-Brochure-fb268c8e-e14b-4c44-8d95-e8ec2a23e31a-0.pdf|archive-date=23 April 2012}}

Construction

The Capital Wind Farm was built for Infigen Energy by Suzlon Energy.{{cite web|title=Capital Wind Farm starts a new industry supply chain|url=http://www.icn.org.au/case-studies/new-south-wales/capital-wind-farm-starts-new-industry-supply-chain|publisher=ICN|access-date=29 March 2013|author=Industry Capability Network (ICN)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328235042/http://www.icn.org.au/case-studies/new-south-wales/capital-wind-farm-starts-new-industry-supply-chain|archive-date=28 March 2013|url-status=dead}} It was constructed as part of the Kurnell Desalination Plant project to offset the power usage of the desalination plant.{{cite web|title=Wind farm vow to power desalination|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/wind-farm-vow-to-power-desalination/2008/05/13/1210444436869.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 March 2013|author=Edmund Tadros and Brian Robins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819204553/http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/wind-farm-vow-to-power-desalination/2008/05/13/1210444436869.html|archive-date=19 August 2008|date=14 May 2008}}{{cite web|title=Wind turbines to power NSW desal plant|url=http://news.smh.com.au/national/wind-turbines-to-power-nsw-desal-plant-20080513-2dm8.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=31 March 2013|date=13 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522203053/http://news.smh.com.au/national/wind-turbines-to-power-nsw-desal-plant-20080513-2dm8.html|archive-date=22 May 2008}}

{{blockquote |text = "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."{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneywater.com.au/Water4Life/Desalination/renewableenergy.cfm |title=Renewable energy |author=Sydney Water |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211035034/http://www.sydneywater.com.au/Water4Life/Desalination/renewableenergy.cfm |archive-date=11 December 2009 }}}}

The wind farm was completed in October 2009 at a cost estimated between A$220 million and A$370 million.{{cite web|title=Electricity Generation Major Development Projects -- October 2009 Listing|url=http://www.abareconomics.com/publications_html/energy/energy_09/EG09_Oct.pdf|publisher=ABARE|author=Alan Copeland|access-date=31 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074359/http://www.abareconomics.com/publications_html/energy/energy_09/EG09_Oct.pdf|archive-date=7 July 2011 |date=November 2009|page=6}} It was opened by the Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, in November 2009.{{cite news|title=Biggest NSW wind farm online|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-11-18/biggest-nsw-wind-farm-online/1147364|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=31 March 2013|date=18 November 2009}}{{cite web|title=Prime Minister Rudd opens the Capital Wind Farm|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2009/11/18/2746561.htm|publisher=666 ABC Canberra|access-date=31 March 2013|author=Jim Trail|date=18 November 2009}}

People and employment

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.{{cite web|title=Wind farms beneficial: Clean Energy Council|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201303/s3702991.htm|publisher=ABC Rural|access-date=31 March 2013|date=4 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331090329/http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201303/s3702991.htm|archive-date=31 March 2013 }}

During the construction of the Capital Wind Farm, 120 people were employed on the project. Over the construction period, about A$10 million went into the local economy, with spending up at the local stores, restaurants and motels.{{cite web|title=The answer is blowing on the wind|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/the-answer-is-blowing-on-the-wind/story-e6frezz0-1226242972602|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=31 March 2013|author=Kate Thornton|date=13 January 2012}} Since construction has finished there are 15 ongoing jobs at the wind farm for service and maintenance.

Some residents who live nearby to the Capital Wind Farm have complained about the noise from the turbines.{{cite web|title=Wind farm critics slam 'all in the mind' games |url=http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-farm-critics-slam-all-in-the-mind-games/2009213.aspx?storypage=0 |publisher=The Land |access-date=31 March 2013 |author=Alan Dick |date=29 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331102048/http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-farm-critics-slam-all-in-the-mind-games/2009213.aspx?storypage=0 |archive-date=31 March 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Scepticism over Hazzard's audit of wind farm noise|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/945887/scepticism-over-hazzards-audit-of-wind-farm-noise/|publisher=The Courier|access-date=31 March 2013|author=Josephine Tovey|date=20 February 2012}}{{cite web|title=Wind turbines put farmers in a spin |url=http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-turbines-put-farmers-in-a-spin/1628414.aspx?storypage=0 |publisher=The Land |access-date=31 March 2013 |author=Debra Jopson |date=21 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121709/http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/wind-turbines-put-farmers-in-a-spin/1628414.aspx?storypage=0 |archive-date=17 May 2014 }}

Operations

The generation table uses [http://nemlog.com.au/ eljmkt nemlog] to obtain generation values for each month.

class="wikitable"

|+Capital Wind Farm Generation (MWh)

!Year

!Total

!Jan

!Feb

!Mar

!Apr

!May

!Jun

!Jul

!Aug

!Sep

!Oct

!Nov

!Dec

2011

|330,153

|24,371

|21,017

|25,887

|21,240

|23,053

|44,703

|40,425

|22,345

|40,296

|24,303

|26,351

|16,162

2012

|297,064

|25,062

|16,197

|18,864

|15,830

|16,392

|21,578

|22,961

|47,684

|33,177

|26,195

|20,994

|32,130

2013

|369,658

|26,410

|22,866

|28,609

|20,651

|27,506

|23,714

|31,744

|55,189

|36,148

|38,052

|30,211

|28,558

2014

|312,958

|27,791

|22,841

|19,663

|16,855

|22,254

|36,537

|41,554

|23,722

|27,342

|25,213

|23,440

|25,746

2015

|318,925

|26,954

|15,771

|27,006

|21,545

|36,441

|15,766

|32,011

|40,761

|21,819

|27,091

|27,074

|26,686

2016

|385,739

|23,836

|21,933

|17,217

|15,709

|52,070

|44,241

|44,201

|30,433

|29,154

|48,656

|30,421

|27,868

2017

|334,639

|25,886

|26,918

|25,939

|14,056

|17,714

|14,302

|42,318

|43,217

|53,499

|22,356

|18,283

|30,151

2018

|362,621

|19,263

|25,908

|29,562

|22,220

|25,986

|31,550

|44,886

|46,333

|29,100

|29,319

|33,849

|24,645

2019

|367,982

|21,997

|24,572

|25,353

|18,835

|30,840

|18,624

|40,172

|41,305

|36,338

|28,501

|42,414

|39,031

2020

|356,829

|31,037

|31,876

|22,143

|34,971

|25,757

|22,903

|22,894

|47,482

|34,570

|31,919

|20,649

|30,628

2021

|27,356

|19,614

|32,710

|20,721

|19,174

|28,916

|41,458

|36,184

|34,815

Note: Records date back to 2011.

References

Category:Wind farms in New South Wales