Mount Mercer Wind Farm

The Mount Mercer Wind Farm is located at Mount Mercer approximately 30 kilometres south of Ballarat in Western Victoria on 2600ha. The wind farm consists of 64 REpower MM92 wind turbines, giving a total installed capacity of 131 MW.[1] It is expected to generate approximately 395,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity each year which could power approximately 74,000 households and result in a reduction of some 510,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.[2]

Mount Mercer wind farm viewed from Colac Ballarat Road

Mount Mercer Wind Farm
CountryAustralia
LocationVictoria
Coordinates37°50′28″S 143°52′16″E
StatusOperational
Owner(s)Meridian Energy
Power generation
Units operational64
Nameplate capacity131 MW

Mount Mercer Wind Farm website

Construction was to commence in September 2009 under the management of WestWind Energy, however the project changed hands to Meridian Energy in the middle of 2009[3] and construction was delayed several years with Meridian Energy citing the financial crisis of 2007–2008 as the cause.[3] Further delays were caused by having to re-design the backhaul to the national grid and thus having to renegotiate easement agreements with local land owners.[4] Construction began December 2012[5] and the generation came fully online in September 2014.[6]

Local farmers who would have turbines on their land were offered $7000 per turbine per year.[7]

First electricity was generated from the wind farm in November 2013.[8]

References
  1. "Mount Mercer Wind Farm Website".
  2. "Wind farm to boost power supply". The Age. 12 April 2007.
  3. "Mount Mercer Update" (PDF). August 2009.
  4. Holcombe, Angus. Meridian Energy Project Manager. Email update from 30 March 2011.
  5. "Meridian Press Release September 3rd 2012". Meridian Energy. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  6. "Mt Mercer 131MW wind farm switched on in Victoria", in RenewEconomy, 11 September 2014
  7. "Mt Mercer wind farm proposal". The Courier. 18 April 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  8. "Mt Mercer Wind Farm begins generating power" (Press release). Meridian Energy. 19 November 2013.
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