Death knell for onshore wind arrays?

Australia’s oldest facility to be axed over rebuild costs

- by SOPHIE WILSON

AUSTRALIA’S oldest commercial wind farm, the Codrington Wind Farm in Victoria, is set to be decommissioned in 2027, marking a significant turning point in the country’s renewable energy landscape.

Despite its prime location near Port Fairy in southwest Victoria, the site will not be repowered due to the high costs and regulatory challenges associated with upgrading the facility, according to Pacific Blue, the company operating the wind farm.

Why Repowering Codrington is not Viable

Codrington Wind Farm, commissioned in 2001, has a capacity of 18.2 megawatts (MW), utilizing 1.3 MW turbines with a hub height of 50 meters and blade tip height of 81 meters. However, modern wind turbines are vastly different:

• New turbines are rated between 6 MW and 8 MW per unit.

• Blade tip heights now exceed 200 meters.

• Spacing requirements have changed significantly to accommodate larger turbine sizes.

• Due to these advancements, repowering Codrington would require:

• New foundations and repositioning of turbines.

• Upgraded grid connections to handle increased energy output.

• Complete re-approval of regulatory permits and grid agreements.