$200 million WA wind farm up and running

The $200 million, 22-turbine Mumbida Wind Farm, located near Geraldton in Mid-West WA, was officially opened today by the state’s energy minister, Dr Mike Nahan.

The wind farm is a 50-50 joint venture project involving Verve Energy and Infrastructure Capital Group. It was built by a consortium of Leighton Contractors and GE Energy, with the latter’s 2.5 MW General Electric 2.5xl wind turbines to be used in Australia for the first time.

The wind turbines each stand 135 m to the top of their blades; about as tall as the Governor Stirling Tower in the Perth CBD. They have the capacity to produce 55 MW of power, which is enough to supply at least 35,000 average households.

Dr Nahan noted that the Mid-West region “has a substantial wind and solar resource, making it attractive for renewable energy projects such as the Mumbida Wind Farm and the nearby Greenough River Solar Farm”, the latter being the first commercial-scale solar farm in Australia.

The total output of both farms has been purchased by the WA Water Corporation to offset the energy requirements of the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant near Bunbury.

Dr Nahan said the Liberal National government had invested significantly in developing a renewable energy hub in the Mid-West to meet its renewable energy target obligations. He added that the Mumbida Wind Farm uses “the most modern wind energy technology”.

“This project represents a strategic development model that considers building the right plant in the right location, supports the local community and ensures the risk is shared equally between investors,” he said.

The project was completed on budget and provided employment for about 100 people, mostly locals. Dr Nahan said the Mid-West community has “embraced renewable energy projects and the employment and service delivery opportunities their construction and operation provided”. 

“The region understands the value, importance and wisdom of tapping into its abundant wind and solar resource for the benefit of the whole state,” he concluded.