Wattle Point Wind Farm

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Wattle Point Wind Farm

| name_official =

| image = Wattle Point windmill.jpg

| image_caption = The information centre near the base of one of the towers.

| image_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|35|7|21|S|137|42|55|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = Australia

| location = Edithburgh, South Australia

| status = Operational

| construction_began = July 2004

| commissioned = April 2005

| decommissioned =

| cost = $180 million (AUD)

| owner =

| operator = AGL Energy

| ps_units_operational = 55

| ps_units_manu_model =

| wind_hub_height = 68

| wind_rotor_diameter = 82

| wind_rated_speed =

| wind_farm_type = Onshore

| ps_site_elevation =

| wind_site_usage =

| ps_site_area = {{convert|17.5|sqkm}}

| ps_electrical_capacity = 91

| ps_electrical_cap_fac =

| website = {{url|https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/renewable-energy/wattle-point-wind-farm}}

| extra =

}}

Wattle Point Wind Farm is a wind farm near Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, which has been operating since April 2005. When it was officially opened in June of that year it was Australia's largest wind farm at {{convert|91|MW|lk=on}}. The installation consists of 55 wind turbines covering {{convert|17.5|km2|sqmi|1}}and was built at a cost of 180 million Australian dollars.{{cite web | url=http://www.yorke.sa.gov.au/tourism/Wattlepoint.htm | title=Wattle Point Wind Farm | access-date=2007-11-13 | publisher=District council of Yorke Peninsula |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830065959/http://www.yorke.sa.gov.au/tourism/Wattlepoint.htm |archive-date = 2007-08-30}} It is connected to ETSA Utilities electricity transmission system via a 132 kilovolt line.{{cite web | url= http://www.etsautilities.com.au/media_release.jsp?xcid=591 | publisher = ETSA Utilities | access-date=2007-11-13 | date = 2004-09-07 | title=Work underway on connection to Australia's largest wind farm}}

The location was chosen after identification as having one of mainland Australia's highest average wind speeds. The wind farm was officially opened by South Australian Premier Mike Rann and Southern Hydro Chairman, Dr Keith Turner.{{cite journal | url=http://www.pesa.com.au/publications/pesa_news/aug_05/pesanews_7707.html | journal= The National Newsletter of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia |date=August–September 2005 |title= Australia's Largest Wind Farm Opened in SA|issue= 77|access-date= 2007-11-13 }} The opening was opposed by some of the local Indigenous Australians, the Adjahdura (or Narungga). A descendant of the traditional landowners argued that construction desecrated an ancient burial ground, disturbing skeletons in the construction of turbine number four.{{cite news | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/06/16/1393546.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120719183710/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/06/16/1393546.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 19 July 2012 | publisher = ABC News (Australia) | date = 2005-06-21 | access-date=2007-11-13 | title=Traditional owners condemn wind farm opening}} Work was halted in late 2004 after the discovery of human remains, artefacts and tools. The Aboriginal Affairs Department, and the developers, separately commissioned archaeological reports resulting in the development allowed to proceed with five towers being repositioned. Both reports concluded that the bones had come from elsewhere on the peninsula, being later reburied at Wattle Point. The region's aboriginal community was divided on construction; Narungga National Aboriginal Corporation supporting development and the Narungga Heritage Committee strongly opposing.{{cite news | last=Bockmann | first = Michelle Wiese | work= The Australian| date = 2005-01-27 | title=Wind farm built on black heritage site | pages=2}}

Wattle Point Wind Farm was built and owned by Southern Hydro Pty Limited. Southern Hydro was owned by Meridian Energy of New Zealand until October 2005, when it was bought by the Australian Gas Light Company (AGL).{{cite web |url = http://www.freehills.com.au/publications/publications_5663.asp#AGL_to_build_Australias_largest_windfarm |title=AGL to build Australia's largest wind farm |access-date=2006-04-26 |date=14 March 2006 |work=Renewable Energy & Greenhouse Update February 2006 |publisher=Freehills}} The windfarm was acquired by Alinta in October 2006, as part of an asset merger with AGL, and subsequently by the ANZ Bank's Energy Infrastructure Trust, for 225 million dollars on 23 April 2007.{{cite web | url = http://www.anz.com/australia/support/library/mr/mr20070423a.pdf | title = (pdf)Purchase of Wattle Point Wind Farm Pty Ltd | publisher = ANZ Bank | date = 2007-04-23 | access-date = 2007-11-13}}

Image:Wattle point windfarm south australia.JPG

The District Council of Yorke Peninsula approved a second wind farm, Wattle Point Stage 2. However it did not proceed due to insufficient capacity in the electrical transmission lines.personal communication with Acting Director Development and Community Services, Yorke Peninsula Council{{better source|date=September 2017}}

The facility is closely connected to the Dalrymple ESCRI battery, a 30-megawatt battery storage facility at Dalrymple substation about {{convert|21|km}} to the north.