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Grasmere Wind Farm

Verve Energy is carrying out a feasibility study to extend the Albany wind farm with the aim of keeping Albany’s title of ‘Western Australia’s greenest city’.

The Albany wind farm currently produces 50% of the local community’s electricity. However, as the population increases, more turbines to generate renewable energy are needed.

The project, known as Grasmere wind farm, will add six wind turbines to the existing 12 turbines at the Albany site. This would make it Verve Energy's largest wind farm.

The additional wind turbines would produce 14MW of electricity and raise the percentage of renewable energy used in the town to more than 80%.

The Grasmere feasibility study is due for completion in mid-2008.  It is examining the social, environmental, technical, financial and business aspects of the proposed extension. The decision as to whether the project will proceed will be made once the feasibility study is finished.
There are financial challenges for the project due to the very high wind turbine component and equipment costs and while equipment costs are expected to be high, and our studies have some way to go, the commercial signs are looking positive.   

We have submitted a Development Application for the Grasmere project to the City of Albany and environmental assessment documents and detailed project plans are being prepared and will be lodged when they are completed.

Importantly community consultation can now begin in earnest. A public display will give Albany residents information about the proposed extension including the look of the wind farm, environmental issues and community impacts.

In the coming months, Verve Energy will submit a referral to the State Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for the project, outlining how environmental issues on the site will be managed.

The new turbines would be built to the same environmental and social standards as the existing wind farm. 

If the project is approved, Verve Energy will work closely with relevant authorities and community groups to ensure that there is minimal impact on the environment and that previous high standards are maintained.

The proposed design places the new turbines on the coast using the same pattern and machine spacing as the current facility.  Even though they have different names, the wind farms will merge.

The Grasmere wind farm will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 43,500 tonnes a year and displace some 50,000 tonnes of coal and gas from electricity generation. 

A detailed community consultation plan including displays, regular newsletters and briefings to various stakeholder groups is being undertaken as part of the study.