Australian-owned renewable energy company Tilt Renewables has started construction of the 288MW Palmer Wind Farm, 70km east of Adelaide.
The project is expected to take around two years to complete and, once operational, will generate up to 288MW of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 142,000 homes.
Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler said the start of construction marks a significant milestone for the project following more than a decade of planning, consultation and design refinement.
“Over this time, we’ve worked hard to reduce its environmental and community impacts cutting the number of turbines from 103 to 40 while maintaining similar energy output,” Fowler said.
Fowler said Tilt Renewables had also worked with the local council, landholders and neighbouring properties throughout the planning process.
“Neighbours, the local community and First Nations people will receive more than $13 million in benefits over the life of the project,” he said.
Initial construction activities will focus on site preparation, including access points, the internal road network and site offices.
Fowler said the company would work to minimise construction impacts, particularly noise and traffic, and encouraged interested community members to join the project’s Community Consultative Committee.
“We will do everything we can to minimise construction impacts on our neighbours, especially noise and traffic, and we would like to invite interested members of the community to join our Community Consultative Committee,” he said.
Tilt Renewables will also hold monthly community drop-in sessions throughout construction. The next sessions are scheduled for July 29 at Palmer Collier Park Hall from 11:30am to 1:30pm and at Tungkillo Soldiers Memorial Hall from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
