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Good News Day Australia S Biggest Wind Farm Is On The Way
Given all the recent weather disasters around Australia – especially the flooding – it’s good to see we are starting to course-correct for a more sustainable future.
From the AGL takeover to Labor’s ambitious renewable energy plan and considerable interest from foreign investors, things are finally starting to look up.
And when it comes renewables, bigger is always better, right? Then you’ll love learning about the biggest wind farm in Australia that’s currently being built!
What’s all this noise about a wind farm?
Construction for the 1,026-megawatt MacIntyre Wind Precinct – consisting of both the Karara Wind Farm and the MacIntyre Wind Farm – began in earnest earlier this year.
Spanish global renewable energy company Acciona Energía, who own a majority stake in the MacIntyre farm, expect everything will be up in running within two years.
⏰ The wind farm precinct will be completed by 2024.
🌞 Both farms are located southwest of Warwick, Queensland.
💲Acciona Energía, Ark Energy and CleanCo are pouring a whopping $2 billion into the project.
🏘️ The precinct will generate enough clean energy to power 700,000 homes.
👷 When finished, the farms will create more than 450 direct construction jobs and another 220 transmission-infrastructure jobs.
💚 The wind farm will help eliminate the emission of around 3 million tonnes of CO2 – every year!
Pros and cons of the MacIntyre Wind Precinct
This is just one of many planned renewable projects in and around Australia. In fact, there’s plenty of interest from international investors to build offshore wind zones, starting in Gippsland, Victoria.
💡But like most big ideas, there are some drawbacks despite the benefits of wind-powered renewables.
PRO: Wind is everywhere, and the turbines have excellent conversion efficiency compared to some other types of renewables.
CON: They can be noisy for residents who live nearby, and they aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing.
PRO: The environmental impact is minimal, and since the turbines extend vertically they take up less land.
CON: In many parts of the world there are limited locations suitable for large wind farms – not a problem in Australia, though!
The bottom line
Australia might have dragged its feet on clean energy in recent decades, but at least decision-makers are starting to make positive steps towards a greener country.
We still have a ways to go – it’s true.
🔋But if the MacIntyre Wind Precinct goes to plan, we can expect to enjoy a much more eco-friendly future.
Read more:
Renewable energy is in – but which one is the cheapest?
How can you climate-proof your home?
The government says they have an energy power plan but what is it exactly?
