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 the 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%.

Notice to recreational users between Sand Patch and Mutton Bird Island.

Closure of off-road vehicle tracks and realignment of the Bibbulmun Track west of the Albany Wind Farm site.

In anticipation of the completion of the feasibility study and securing all the required approvals for the project, closure of 4WD tracks and realignment of the Bibbulmun track will be necessary for this project to proceed.

To safely carry out the works associated with constructing the wind farm extension, 4WD tracks will be temporarily closed and a section of the Bibbulmun track realigned.

Construction work could commence in October 2010 and continue to early 2012.

During this time off-road vehicle tracks into the site will be closed and access to the construction site will be restricted to authorised personnel. The section of Bibbulmun Track which passes through the site will be diverted to the existing 4WD track running parallel to the coast. To ensure the safety of bushwalkers, no vehicles will be permitted to use this track during the closure.

See map of closure areas in right-hand box on this page.

Verve Energy apologises for the inconvenience caused by the track closures.

Feasibility study

The Grasmere feasibility study 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 this year.

The new turbines would be built to the same high 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 would 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.