Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm
Client: Hydro Tasmania / Roaring 40s / Acciona Energy (Oceana) Pty Ltd
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date: 2000 - 2007
Developing a wind farm from site identification through to operation, adding valuable renewable energy generation capacity.
Background
The Cathedral Rocks wind farm is located on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The wind farm consists of 33 Vestas V80 2 MW wind turbines and has a generating capacity of 66 MW. The wind farm is connected to Port Lincoln via a 30 km 132 kV transmission line.
Solution
Entura was engaged to complete all the technical and financial feasibility analysis, including wind data collection, long-term wind resource and wind farm energy estimates for the business case.
Our team managed the environmental impact assessment and development approval for the project, which included the delivery of a tailored public consultation program to facilitate project awareness and acceptability amongst the community and land-owners. This was a key aspect of the development approval process, along with negotiations with the Heritage Council to develop a heritage agreement to protect and conserve over 2300 ha of native vegetation.
Entura also prepared the detailed design for the project covering civil, electrical, and wind engineering. This included the design of a power collection system with eight 33 kV padmount substations and four 33 kV feeders connecting to a 33 kV switching station.
During the construction phase, we provided responses to the constructor with regards to the design, and then investigated the wind turbine-related issues during testing and acceptance. Once the wind farm became operational, Entura was involved in the investigation of operational issues across the site, and participated in technical negotiations and discussions to find solutions with the wind turbine manufacturer and the lending institutions on behalf of the developers.
Outcome
Entura was intrinsically involved in achieving National Electricity Market registration for the wind farm. Construction of the project began in July 2004 and the first wind turbine was commissioned in late 2005. The wind farm was completely operational by May 2007.
During the detailed design phase, we designed an innovative star topology power collection system that minimised the impact on native vegetation across the site, and was found to be the most cost effective based on thorough peer review.
