Origin Energy, Australia’s biggest energy retailer, has sought federal environmental approval for a massive wind and battery storage project in the New England region of NSW, in signs that it is finally starting to move on building new renewable energy capacity.
The Northern Tablelands wind project proposes 76 wind turbines – each 300 metres high – and a total capacity of 638 megawatts (MW), accompanied by an 800 MW, 1,000 MWh big battery.
The location is a property called Warrane, around 18kms north west of Armidale, which Origin bought in July, 2023, with the intention of hosting the project.
In May this year, one of four key energy hubs in the proposed New England renewable energy zone in northern NSW was moved to the site to lessen the impact on private landowners.
New England is slated to be the biggest renewable energy zone in the state, largely because of its excellent wind resources and strong solar resource, but the community appears divided and federal MP Barnaby Joyce and his wife have been leading a vocal campaign against wind and solar developments in the area.
The region has already witnessed some bitter battles over renewable energy developments, particularly the Hills of Gold wind project near Nundle, which remains the subject of a legal battle, and the dumping of Ark Energy’s Doughby wind project east of Armidale after several prospective landowners changed their mind.
Origin Energy owns and operates the country’s biggest coal generator, the 2.8 GW Eraring facility in the Central Coast, but its planned closure in August was delayed at least two years – and its extension underwritten by the state government – because of fears of capacity shortfalls and price spikes.
However, Origin and other major energy retailers have done little in the way of building their own replacement capacity, and the buyers’ strike from retailers and big energy customers has meant no new wind projects have secured a final investment decision in Australia so far this year.
Origin has already made moves with the 1.4 GW Yanco Delta wind farm in the south-west REZ – the only project in that region to get grid rights for its full capacity in what turns out to be an undersized grid – but has yet to fully commit to the project.
Most of its development activities have been focused on battery storage, including the 700 MW, 2,800 MWh Eraring battery now under construction, and a smaller 300 MW, 650 MWh battery at Mortlake in Victoria, and it has “tolling” arrangements with the Supernode and Summerfield batteries.
The Northern Tablelands wind project, however, is not likely to begin construction until towards the end of the decade, given it will be dependent on the New England REZ infrastructure being in place before it can send power to major load centres.
Origin says it has begun consultations with local community groups, including neighbours within 10 kms of the project, local councils, First Nations stakeholders, local industry and emergency services, as well as state and federal MPs.
“Origin is committed to genuine ongoing community and stakeholder engagement that helps drive project development in a way that minimises potential environmental and social impacts,” it says.
“Continued engagement with the community and stakeholders will be carried out using a range of tools identified during the preparation of the EIS.”
The Northern Tablelands wind project is on land that has been used mostly for cattle grazing since the 1830s, and also comprises a mix of native woodland predominantly along the ridgelines, hilly areas and slopes.
“Within the project area there is still a large expanse of land which provides connectivity particularly along vegetated ridgelines connecting the northern extent of the project area to the south,” the application says.
“There are two main ridgelines which begin at the northern boundary and provide a large buffer of vegetation connecting the project area to Bulagaranda (Mount Yarrowyck) Aboriginal Area, south-west of the project area.”
High biodiversity value watercourses occur throughout the project area. and the project area features two threatened communities – White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland, and New England Peppermint Grassy Woodlands.
As for fauna, the application notes that the two closest operational wind farms are White Rock, about 60km north, and Sapphire, about 75 km north.
It says since 2017 one mortality of the threatened White-throated Needletail has been recorded at the White Rock Wind Farm, “though it is considered the risk to this species remains low and the loss of one individual is considered to have a negligible impact on the overall population.”
Origin says it has not yet finalised all the turbine sitings, and is also looking to minimise the impact on the historic Warrane homestead.
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