Wind power in Australia

In August 2015, the Victorian government announced financial support for new wind farms as part of an initiative to promote renewable energy within the state.

This initiative aimed to expedite the construction of a modest 100 MW of new wind energy, representing a $200 million investment.

[citation needed] Wind developments typically entail substantial upfront capital costs, with comparatively lower operating expenses.

In contrast, conventional energy sources such as gas and coal demand significant initial capital investments and incur ongoing operating costs.

Gas and coal power stations also generally have much longer operational lifespans compared to wind turbines.

When adequately maintained, coal and gas plants can remain operational for up to three times longer than wind turbines.

People may still object to wind farms, perhaps on the grounds of aesthetics, but their concerns should be weighed against the need to address the threats posed by climate change and the opinions of the broader community.

Based on the 2010 figures for electricity production of 5 TWh nationally, it is estimated that wind power saved Australia 5,100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in that year.

[22] From 2001 to early 2006, the main driving force for the establishment of wind farms in Australia was the Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET).

In January 2022, construction began on the Goyder South development, which is expected to become one of Australia’s largest wind farms.

Run by French firm Neoen, the project expects to be able to provide 209 MW of power generation by 2024, and a similar amount again when construction is complete.

[25] As of April 2023, some wind projects underway in Victoria is the 756 MW stage one of the Golden Plains development in Rokewood.