It may be the smallest state in Australia, but if all goes to plan, Tasmania will build what the government claims will be the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.
The $2 billion project is expected to create 500 jobs over a two-year construction period and represent what the government says will mark the island state’s largest ever infrastructure development.
Renewable energy provider Hydro Tasmania announced earlier this week its intention to investigate TasWind, a 600 megawatt wind farm consisting of around 200 turbines likely to be located on King Island.
The idea is to sell and transmit electricity generated into the National Energy Market via a high-voltage direct current underwater cable across Bass Strait, with a landing point in Victoria.
Should it go ahead, the company estimates the wind farm will produce around 2,400 gigawatt hours of renewable energy for the national market – enough to power 240,000 homes, represent more than five percent of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target and reduce the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere by around 1.9 million tonnes per year.
While stressing the proposal is in early stages, Hydro Tasmania says it would provide significant benefits for King Island. In addition to opportunities in construction – it is expected to produce 500 jobs at peak construction and 10-20 ongoing jobs during operation – these would include likely upgrades to the port, upgrades to many roads, more airport traffic, opportunities to develop better communication services (a fibre connection with mainland Australia will be required) and higher levels of international exposure, which may support the ‘Clean Green’ brand.
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