The 180-megawatt Warradarge Wind Farm near Eneabba in Western Australia is expected to begin construction early this year, following the award of the contract to deliver the project.

Energy solutions firm Vestas has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction. Operations and maintenance contracts on the project, funded and developed by Bright Energy Investments, are the result of a partnership between WA energy provider Synergy and the private sector.

The wind farm comprises 51 turbines, with a tip height of 152 metres and a blade length of 66 metres. Western Power will construct the 10-kilometre transmission line from the wind farm sub-station to the network connection point near Eneabba.

Western Australian Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the project will create up to 200 jobs.

“The wind farm will have a total output of 180 megawatts with a 50 per cent capacity factor – the equivalent of the average annual electricity needs of 135,000 Western Australian homes,” he said. “By developing renewables projects, we are demonstrating our commitment to ensuring our State meets its 2020 Large-scale Renewable Energy Target obligations.”

The Western Australian Government expects the first power to be generated in 2020.

Article extracted from RoadsOnline | Image from Quanta