Wind power in South Australia


became a significant energy source within South Australia over the first two decades of the 21st century. In 2015, there was an installed capacity of 1,475 MW, which accounted for 34% of electricity production in the state. This accounted for 35% of Australia's installed wind power capacity. In 2021, there was an installed capacity of 2052.95 MW, which accounted for 42.1% of the electricity production in the state in 2020.
The development of wind power capacity in South Australia has been encouraged by a number of factors. These include the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Target, which requires electricity retailers to source a proportion of energy from renewable sources, incentives from the South Australian Government including a supportive regulatory regime and a payroll tax rebate scheme for large scale renewable energy developments. Also, the state's proximity to the Roaring forties means there are high-quality wind resources for wind farms to exploit. In mid-2009, RenewablesSA was established by the South Australian Government to encourage further investment in renewable energy in the state.
The load factor for South Australian wind farms is usually in the range of 32–38%. This means that a wind farm could typically produce between 32 and 38% of its nameplate capacity averaged over a year.

Wind farm overview

In 2003 the only large wind turbine in South Australia was a 0.15 MW unit at Coober Pedy and by early 2004 there was 34 MW of installed wind power capacity.
As of December 2010, South Australia had thirteen operational wind farms, with an installed capacity of 1,018 MW. By August 2014 this had increased to 1,473 MW, accounting for 27 per cent of electricity production. As of late 2015 there are a large range of new wind farms in various stages of planning but only one under construction, the Hornsdale Wind Farm. Hornsdale is a place that was generating 86 MW immediately prior to the 2016 South Australian blackout in September 2016.
South Australia has provided regulatory certainty for wind farms, and the government has implemented land use planning policies which represent national best practice for accommodating wind farms. On 2 June 2009, Premier Mike Rann announced plans to increase South Australia's renewable energy production target to 33% by 2020, well above the national target of 20% by 2020.
Installed
capacity 		Wind farmOwnerStageInstalled
capacity 		Generating since...
368.7Snowtown wind farmTilt Renewables
Palisade Investment Partners		198.7
368.7Snowtown wind farmTilt Renewables
Palisade Investment Partners		2270
350.7Hallett Wind FarmAGL Energy194.5
350.7Hallett Wind FarmAGL Energy271.4
350.7Hallett Wind FarmAGL Energy4132.3
350.7Hallett Wind FarmAGL Energy552.5
316.8Hornsdale Wind FarmNeoen1102.4
316.8Hornsdale Wind FarmNeoen2102.4
316.8Hornsdale Wind FarmNeoen3112
278.5Lake Bonney Wind FarmInfigen Energy180.5
278.5Lake Bonney Wind FarmInfigen Energy2159
278.5Lake Bonney Wind FarmInfigen Energy339
130.8Waterloo Wind FarmPalisade Investment Partners
Northleaf Capital		1111
130.8Waterloo Wind FarmPalisade Investment Partners
Northleaf Capital		219.8
126Lincoln Gap Wind FarmNexif Energy1126
126Lincoln Gap Wind FarmNexif Energy286
119Willogoleche Wind FarmEngie-119
90.75Wattle Point Wind FarmAGL Energy-90.75
70Mount Millar Wind FarmMeridian Energy-70
66Cathedral Rocks Wind FarmEnergyAustralia/
Acciona		-66
56.7Clements Gap Wind FarmPacific Hydro-56.7
46Canunda Wind FarmEngie/Mitsui-46
33Starfish Hill Wind FarmRATCH-Australia-33

Operational wind farms

Snowtown Wind Farm (369 MW)

It is located on the Barunga Range of hills west of Snowtown in the mid-North of South Australia and around 150 km north of the state capital, Adelaide. The first stage of the Snowtown wind farm with a capacity of 98.7 MW was completed in 2008. The 270 MW second stage was completed in November 2014.

Hallett Wind Farm (350 MW)

was developed in four stages: Hallett 1, Hallett 2, Hallett 4 and Hallett 5. The proposed Hallett 3 wind farm was put on hold by AGL in 2012.
Hallett 1 consists of 45 Suzlon 2.1 MW S88 turbines and was completed in June 2008. Hallett 2 consists of 34 2.1 MW Suzlon turbines and was completed in late 2009. Hallett 4 has 63 turbines with a total installed capacity of 132 MW, and was in full operation in early 2011. Hallett 5 consists of 25 Suzlon turbines each of 2.1 MW and was completed in early 2012.

Hornsdale Wind Farm (315 MW)

was built in three stages. Construction of Stage 1 began in September 2015 and was finished in September 2017. Stage 1 consists of 32 turbines each having a rated capacity of 3.2 MW. Construction of Stage 2 began in July 2016 and was finished in June 2017. Stage 2 consists of 32 turbines each having a rated capacity of 3.2 MW. Construction of Stage 3 began in April 2017 and was finished in December 2017. Stage 3 consists of 35 turbines each having a rated capacity of 3.2 MW.

Lake Bonney Wind Farm (278.5 MW)

was built in three stages. Stage 1 consists of 46 turbines each having a rated capacity of 1.75 MW and was finished in March 2005. Construction of Stage 2 began in November 2006 and was finished around April 2008. Stage 2 consists of 53 turbines of 3 MW. Stage 3 consists of 13 turbines of 3 MW. The combined capacity of the three stages is 278.5 MW making it the biggest wind farm in Australia at the time of completion.

Lincoln Gap (212 MW)

is built on the hills above Lincoln Gap, a gap in the range where the Eyre Highway and Whyalla railway line pass through.

Waterloo Wind Farm (131 MW)

The Waterloo Wind Farm was built as a 111 MW wind farm which was completed in 2010 at an estimated cost of $300 million. It had thirty-seven Vestas V90 3 MW turbines along the 18 km wind farm site connected through a 33 kilovolt internal reticulation network to the wind farm substation. The wind farm is approximately 30 kilometres south-east of the township of Clare and 100 km north of Adelaide. A Stage 2 expansion was approved to add up to an additional 6 turbines to the existing farm and increase its total generating capacity to over 130 MW. The wind farm was expanded with six additional Vestas V117 turbines at the southern end in 2016 at a cost of.

Willogoleche Wind Farm (119 MW)

is in the Mid North of South Australia, just west of the town of Hallett.

Wattle Point Wind Farm (91 MW)

is near Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula. When it was officially opened in June 2005 it was Australia's largest wind farm at 91 MW. The installation consists of 55 wind turbines and was built at a cost of 165 million Australian dollars.

Mount Millar Wind Farm (70 MW)

is situated on an escarpment between the towns of Cowell and Cleve located 100 kilometres southwest of Whyalla. The 35 wind turbines are positioned on the elongated Mount Millar site to maximise wind exposure and can generate up to 70 megawatts of electricity. Construction of this wind farm started in late 2004 and was completed in December 2005. Power production started in February 2006.

Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm (66 MW)

is in a remote coastal area located near the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, about 30 km south west of Port Lincoln. It has 33 wind turbines capable of generating 66 MW in total. Construction started in 2004, and the first turbines were commissioned in late 2005. The wind farm was fully operational by 2007.

Clements Gap Wind Farm (56 MW)

In February 2010, Pacific Hydro opened the 56.7 MW Clements Gap Wind Farm. The wind farm is located in South Australia's mid-north. The project has 27 x 2.1 MW Suzlon wind turbines, which generate enough electricity for 30,000 homes.

Canunda Wind Farm (46 MW)

is a $92.5 million, 46 MW wind power project located on grazing land approximately 16 kilometres south of Millicent. The wind farm is made up of 23 Vestas 2.0 MW wind turbines. The project was opened in March 2005 by Wind Prospect.

Starfish Hill Wind Farm (33 MW)

is near Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It comprises 22 turbines of 1.5 MW each, with turbines on Starfish Hill on the nearby Salt Creek Hill, giving a combined generating capacity of 33 MW. Starfish Hill Wind Farm was commissioned in September 2003, making it the first major wind farm in South Australia.

Wind farm proposals

In addition to its operating wind farms, South Australia has several proposals for new farms at various stages of development. These include:
Designed capacity
Wind farmLocationDeveloperDevelopment StatusExpected operational date
180Barn HillWill fill the gap between Snowtown and Clements Gap wind farms on the Barunga Range southwest of RedhillAGL Energy2009 approved, 2013 revisedAGL target investment decision Mid 2023
600Ceres ProjectYorke PeninsulaSpark Renewables Approved 2014.
Revised plan approved August 2019 New owner preparing fresh development application		Unknown
? - 26 turbinesCrystal Brook energy parkCrystal BrookNeoenAugust 2019 approvalConstruction due 12 months from approval
144-250ExmoorNaracoorteAccionaApplication lodged 2011, possibly lapsed by 20192017
412Goyder South Wind FarmSoutheast of BurraNeoenUnder construction2024
105KeynetonKeynetonPacific Hydro2013 approved.
2019 cancelled.		Construction was to start mid-2019
120KongorongKongorong RATCH-AustraliaPossibly lapsed before 2019Not mentioned on company web site
110Kulparanorthwest of Port WakefieldRATCH-AustraliaPossibly lapsed before 2019Not mentioned on company web site
375PalmerPalmer, Tungkillo, SanderstonTilt RenewablesIn Development, being assessed against other optionsApproved 2015, appeals dismissed 2019
206.5Port Augusta Renewable Energy Parksouth of Port AugustaDP Energy and IberdrolaUnder construction2022
14–200Tungketta Hill/EllistonBetween Elliston and SheringaAusker EnergiesApprovedThe developer's website said construction would begin when transmission issues are resolved.
185Twin Creek Wind Farmnortheast of KapundaRES AustraliaMay 2019 development consent
October 2019 Development approval
350Woakwinenear BeachportInfigen Energy2012 approved