Squadron unveils major wind farm plans proposed for Victoria

Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy now has major wind energy projects under development in all three of mainland Australia’s east-coast states, after unveiling plans for a 420MW wind farm on Wadawurrung Country, southwest of Ballarat in Victoria.

The proposed Moreton Hill wind farm is the first of Squadron Energy’s projects to start development in Victoria and the third wind farm owned by the company in the state.

The company says the 62 turbine project is in the early stages of development, with plans to refer it to the Victorian minister for planning later in the year to determine whether it needs an Environment Effects Statement (EES).

Squadron says the team behind the Moreton Hill project team has already undertaken “several months of engagement” with potential turbine hosts, and has now started meeting with all landowners with homes neighbouring the proposed site.

Squadron Energy’s head of project development, Alastair Smith, said the company was keen to “get the ball rolling” on the wind farm, which equals the size of AGL’s Macarthur wind farm – once the biggest in Victoria – but falls well short of the huge Golden Plains project that will be 1.3GW once complete.

“We’re committed to being a positive contributor to the communities where we work by sharing the benefits of our projects and supporting communities over the long term through a range of opportunities,” said Smith this week.

“Maximising investment in the regional economy is a priority, and we also actively encourage open and regular communication with all local stakeholders.”

Squadron formally launched one of the largest completed wind energy projects in New South Wales in April of this year; the 224MW Bango wind farm, in the state’s Southern Tablelands.

The next wind farm in line to be completed by the Forrest-owned company is the 450MW Clarke Creek wind farm in central Queensland – the first stage of a massive, multi-gigawatt renewable precinct that includes plans for a 2GWh battery.

Elsewhere in NSW, Squadron is working up plans for the 400MW Jeremiah wind farm and big battery in the state’s south. Construction is underway on the 414MW Uungala wind farm, near Wellington, with a 150MW, two-hour big battery to be built alongside it.