About the Project

Summary

Gullen Range Wind Farm consists of 73 wind turbines, manufactured by Goldwind Science and Technology. Two different types of turbine are installed on the project: the GRW100-2.5MW (56 turbines) and the GW82-1.5MW (17 turbines). The GW100-2.5MW has a 100m diameter rotor with a hub height of 80m (this is the height of the centre of the rotor). This makes for a height from ground level to the top of the rotor (the tip height) of 130m. At full power these turbines produce 2.5MW of power. The GW82-1.5MW has an 82m diameter rotor on an 85m tower, a tip height of 126m and at full power it produces 1.5MW.

Both types of wind turbine begin generating electricity when the wind speed measured at the centre of the rotor is approximately 3m/s (11km/h). As the wind speed increases from 3m/s to 12m/s, the amount of energy produced by the wind turbine increases. When the wind speed reaches 12m/s (43km/h), the wind turbine achieves its maximum or rated power output, which it then maintains for wind speeds up to 25m/s (90km/h). At 25m/s, the wind turbine will automatically shut down and stop, to avoid being damaged. The rated power of our wind turbines is either 1.5MW or 2.5MW, depending on the turbine type.

The generators in the wind turbines produce electricity at approximately 600V, which is stepped up to 33kV by a transformer at the base of the wind turbine. Underground cables transmit this 33kV power from the wind turbine locations to the wind farm switchroom near Bannister. The 73 turbines are split into seven electrical circuits. The electricity is stepped up to 330kV by two transformers located next to the switch room and then passed on to the national electricity grid via a Transgrid owned switchyard. Electricity is sold under a Power Purchase Agreement, an arrangement where the wind farm receives a pre-agreed sum for each MW of electricity produced, regardless of any market price fluctuations.

The wind turbines are connected by approximately 45km of access tracks. Each wind turbine location includes a crane hardstanding – an area 25m x 45m where a crane can be setup to erect, maintain or decommission a turbine. The tracks and the hardstandings are unsealed (not bitumen). The wind turbine towers are connected to concrete foundations buried in the ground. The foundations are approximately 20m in diameter and 2m deep.

The wind farm is owned by BJCE Australia through its subsidiary, New Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty. Ltd. (NGRWF).

Development

The Gullen Range Wind Farm was originally developed by a company called Epuron. Development Approval was awarded in 2010. The wind farm was then sold to Goldwind Capital (Australia).

Construction

Goldwind Capital (Australia) began construction of the project in 2012. The substation was energised and the first turbines began operating in 2013. The wind farm was fully operational with all turbines commissioned and exporting electricity on December 23^rd 2014. During the construction phase, the wind farm was purchased by BJCE Australia.