The Victorian Government has announced that two brand new wind farms are now online, including one of the state’s largest to date.
The two projects combined are capable of generating enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 208,000 homes across Victoria.
The Ryans Corner Wind Farm is one of the largest wind farms in the state with 52 turbines producing 218MW – enough to power 140,000 homes.
The Hawkesdale Wind Farm – located north of Port Fairy in southwest Victoria’s Moyne Shire – has 23 turbines which can produce 97MW of electricity, enough to power 67,000 homes.
The Victorian Government said it has met every climate target it has set to date and is on track to reach its next target of 40 per cent renewable energy generation by 2025.
In October 2024, renewables met 49 per cent of the state’s total monthly electricity generation – wind energy provided about 23 per cent of Victoria’s monthly electricity generation.
The Victorian Government said that since 2014, the amount of renewable electricity generated by wind farms in the state has more than quadrupled. This increase in renewable energy generation has meant that Victoria consistently has the lowest wholesale power prices in the country, ensuring that the state has been better insulated against global energy price rises.
The State Government also said that meeting Victoria’s renewable energy targets will deliver $9.5 billion in economic activity and 59,000 jobs – many of the ongoing benefits will be in regional Victoria, including new jobs and local business growth.
Developer of both wind farms – Global Power Generation – has created a Community Engagement and Benefit Sharing Plan for each project to ensure the community stays informed about project updates and receives positives benefits from the project.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “With more than 4.7GW of wind energy operating across 42 projects, and a further nine either under construction or approved for construction, we have created the foundations that secures Victoria’s energy future.”
Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action, Sheena Watt, said, “Ryans Corner Wind Farm and Hawkesdale Wind Farm will strengthen our grid with more reliable, renewable and affordable energy while helping us to take the critical action necessary to limit climate change.”
Member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora, said that the renewable energy transition is bringing with it the jobs of the future that will support local communities.
“These wind farms have supported local jobs in the Moyne Shire while providing reliable and affordable energy.”
Featured image: The Hawkesdale Wind Farm. Image: Global Power
