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Coopers Gap Wind Farm

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Coordinates: 26°44′35″S 151°27′00″E / 26.743°S 151.45°E / -26.743; 151.45
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Coopers Gap Wind Farm
Coopers Gap Wind Farm in 2021
Map
CountryAustralia
LocationBilboa and Cooranga North, Queensland
Coordinates26°44′35″S 151°27′00″E / 26.743°S 151.45°E / -26.743; 151.45
StatusCommissioned
Construction beganFebruary 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02)
Commission date2020; 4 years ago (2020)
Construction costA$850 million
OwnerPowering Australian Renewables Fund
OperatorAGL Energy
Employees20
Wind farm
TypeOnshore
Hub height110 metres (361 ft) GE 3.6-137
115 metres (377 ft) GE 3.8-130
Rotor diameter130 metres (427 ft)
137 metres (449 ft)
Site area10,200 hectares (102.00 km2)
Site elevation535 to 840 metres (1,755 to 2,756 ft)
Power generation
Units operational91 × 3.63 MW
32 × 3.83 MW
Make and modelGeneral Electric 3.6-137
General Electric 3.8-130
Nameplate capacity453 MW
Capacity factor33.96% (average July 2021-June 2024)
Annual net output1.35 TWh (average July 2021-June 2024)
External links
Websitehttps://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/coopers-gap-wind-farm
[edit on Wikidata]

Coopers Gap Wind Farm is a 453 megawatt wind farm in the Western Downs and South Burnett regions of Queensland, Australia.[1] It is located approximately 175 km north-west of the state capital Brisbane, and 50 kilometres south-west of Kingaroy and 65 kilometers north of Dalby.[1][2] When construction was announced to be completed on 30 April 2020, it became the largest wind farm in Australia.[3][4][5] This record was held until 10 December 2020 when the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Victoria was completed.[6][7]

Site

[edit]

The wind farm is located in a hilly area, approximately 5 km to the north-west of the Bunya Mountains. It is located approximately 175 km (109 mi) north-west of the state capital Brisbane, and 50 km (31 mi) south-west of Kingaroy and 65 km (40 mi) north of Dalby.[1]

The area is mostly cleared, cattle-grazing country and was originally planned to cover approximately 12,000 hectares (29,700 acres) in total,[8] however the site area was reduced later in the development process to 10,200 hectares (25,200 acres).[9] The site has an elevation of 535 to 840m.[10] The project falls within both the South Burnett Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council jurisdictions.[11]

History

[edit]

The side was identified by Windlab using their proprietary WindScape wind mapping technology in late 2005,[12] and a 60-metre wind-monitoring mast was installed in March 2006 in order to accurately measure wind speed and direction in the area.[12] After twelve months of data capture, the proponents began securing land and pre-feasibility studies started.[12]

In 2009, development approval was expected in the same year.[12]

In April 2011, some local landholders expressed concerns at a community forum related to health effects and the noise of the wind turbines, some of which would be less than a kilometre from homes.[13]

In March 2017, the project was approved by the Coordinator-General. The approved project consisted of up to 115 turbines, with a maximum tip height of 180m, and a maximum rotor diameter of 140m.[14]

The first turbine generated electricity to the grid on 24 June 2019.[15]

In June 2021, it was reported that GE Catcon had successfully demolished a faulty turbine tower on 27 May 2021 after faults were discovered during the commissioning process. Additionally, a further 50 turbines required component replacement after generator issues inside their nacelles were identified.[16][17]

Project

[edit]

For a period of time, Coopers Gap was the largest wind farm in Australia. With a total generation capacity of up to 453 megawatts (607,000 hp), annually is expected to generate 1.51 million megawatt hours of energy, with a corresponding capacity factor of 38%.[1] The wind farm consists of 123 turbines[1] extending across a series of ridge lines within the site. The wind turbines are approximately 180 metres (591 ft) in height from the tower base to the tip of the blade.[18][19] 91 of the turbines are rated at 3.6 MW with towers 110 metres (361 ft) high,[20] with the blades approximately 67.2 m (220 ft) in length[19][20] and a corresponding rotor diameter of 137 metres (449 ft).[19] There are also 32 turbines rated at 3.8 MW with a rotor diameter of 130 metres (427 ft), but at a taller hub height of 115 metres (377 ft).[20] The construction costs of the project were initially to be over $1.2 billion,[11] however construction costs reduced from the start of the development process, so the final cost was A$850 million.

The electricity generated from each turbine is transmitted via underground or above ground cabling to a central cable marshalling point at the on site substation, which is located along the 275 kV power line that runs through the site area. The substation then connects directly into the grid network on site. It is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2.2 million tonnes yearly.[8]

Operations

[edit]

The wind farm registered its first grid output in June 2019 and was fully commissioned in June 2021. It was planned to be commissioned late in 2020.[21] On 19 June 2021, the wind farm reached an output of 438.2 MW, or 99.59% of its maximum registered output of 440 MW.[22][23][24]

Coopers Gap Wind Farm Generation (MWh) [25]
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2019 141,617 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 413* 3,134* 9,398* 21,843* 28,984* 38,725* 39,120*
2020 991,138 26,473* 30,890* 57,377* 48,224* 95,248* 87,140* 109,069* 98,270* 117,767* 119,562* 88,951* 112,167*
2021 1,285,449 113,633*[26] 81,015*[27] 103,283*[28] 89,943*[29] 100,389*[30] 116,245[31] 142,096[32] 114,138[33] 112,042[34] 104,336[35] 123,356[36] 84,973[37]
2022 1,387,927 119,201 117,842 94,755 113,563 124,605 101,656 128,484 113,009 101,010 128,918 127,131 117,753
2023 1,334,204 121,320 125,014 94,315 114,770 128,739 113,575 111,005 109,167 115,100 73,880 128,081 99,238
2024 119,519 90,740 145,793 100,849 110,247 72,161

Note: Asterisk indicates power output was limited during the month.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Coopers Gap Wind Farm". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Coopers Gap Wind Farm | State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning". www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Last wind turbine completed at Coopers Gap Wind Farm". AGL. 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  4. ^ Vorrath, Sophie (30 April 2020). "Final turbine installed at Australia's largest wind farm". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ "GE and AGL develop Australia's largest wind farm in Coopers Gap, Queensland | GE News". www.ge.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ^ "- Media Releases". Stockyard Hill Wind Farm. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  7. ^ "STOCKYARD HILL WIND FARM COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER" (PDF). February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b "500 megawatt wind farm proposed for Queensland". Energy Matters. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Coopers Gap Wind Farm: Coordinator-General's evaluation report on the environmental impact statement" (PDF). March 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  10. ^ "ASSESSMENT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE ISSUES FOR THE COOPERS GAP WIND FARM" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b Petrina Berry (14 August 2008). "Wind farm to power 320,000 homes". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d Coopers Gap Wind Farm Archived 13 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Windlab Systems.
  13. ^ "Graziers split over proposed location of wind turbines near Kingaroy". The Sunday Mail. Queensland Newspapers. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  14. ^ "Initial Advice Statement - Coopers Gap Wind Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Community Newsletter" (PDF). Coopers Gap Wind Farm Project. AGL Energy. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Explosives Bring Down Faulty Tower". southburnett.com.au. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Faults To Be Fixed At Wind Farm". southburnett.com.au. 9 November 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  18. ^ Coopers Gap Wind Farm Information Brochure Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Windlab Systems.
  19. ^ a b c "Giant Blades Power Coopers Gap Wind Farm". 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  20. ^ a b c "The largest wind turbine blades ever transported in Australia begin their journey". www.agl.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Let it blow: Darling Downs becomes wind farm capital of Australia". InQueensland. 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  22. ^ "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLOG.
  23. ^ "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLOG.
  24. ^ "NEM Registration and Exemption List". Australian Energy Market Operator. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  25. ^ "eljmkt nemlog - Coopers Gap Wind Farm (COOPGWF1)". Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  26. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  27. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  28. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  29. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  30. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  31. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  32. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  33. ^ Eldridge, Geoff. "SCADAVALUE:DISPATCH (COOPGWF1: 453 MW of Wind in QLD1)". NEMLog. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  34. ^ "COOPGWF1.. : NEM Unit Output (MW)". nemlog.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  35. ^ "COOPGWF1.. : NEM Unit Output (MW)". nemlog.com.au. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  36. ^ "COOPGWF1.. : NEM Unit Output (MW)". nemlog.com.au. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  37. ^ "COOPGWF1.. : NEM Unit Output (MW)". nemlog.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
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