WA’s third-largest wind farm, Warradarge to reach full output by end of October

The Warradarge wind farm in Western Australia – the state’s newest and third largest wind project – will be up and running before the end of October, the state government says.

The 180MW wind farm was officially opened by state energy minister Bill Johnston on Wednesday, and is one of a number of new projects joining the grid, including the bigger 214MW Yandin wind farm and the 100MW Merredin solar farm.

“It’s exciting to witness the sheer scale of this project, and without a doubt, the Warradarge Wind Farm will become one of the best, large-scale renewables projects in Australia,” Johnston said in a statement.

“The McGowan Government is committed to improving energy affordability and creating a cleaner, greener energy system for Western Australians. This is a project that has delivered local jobs using local contractors and will further secure the future of energy supply in this State.”

The project has been built by Bright Energy, and will deploy 51 Vestas wind turbines, which will be some of the largest deployed in Western Australia. Vestas as supplied turbines with a total tip height of 152 metres, and blades that measure 66.6 metres in length.

According to Bright Energy Investments, the Warradarge wind farm is expected to deliver an average capacity factor in the region of 50 per cent, a remarkably high output rate for an Australian project.

The project, near the town of Dandaragan north of Perth,  will become the third -wind farm in Western Australia, following the 207MW Collgar wind farm, and the 214MW Yandin wind farm.

There are 25 to 30 workers currently engaged at the site, undertaking the final commissioning works, with an additional 10 jobs to be created during the operational phase of the project.

All of the projects 51 turbines had been installed by early August, with on-site technicians currently undertaking final running tests on each of the turbines, ahead of the wind farm commencing full operation before the end of October.

Bright Energy has recently completed the 30MW stage two expansion of the Greenough River Solar Farm.