Synergy promises community engagement over future of Albany Grasmere Wind Farm as turbines near end of life

Electricity generator and retailer Synergy has promised to engage the community over its plans for the future of the Albany Grasmere Wind Farm. The 18 giant turbines at the Sandpatch site, just outside Albany, are nearing the end of their design lives and owner Bright Energy Investment has asked Synergy to investigate possible options. BEI is a joint venture between Synergy and Potentia Energy. Synergy is awaiting approval from the City of Albany to install a meteorological mast which will measure wind speed, direction, temperature and pressure. This is the first step in the decision-making process around the prospect of the wind farm continuing to generate clean energy from 2030 and beyond. BEI general manager Tom Frood said the results from the mast will be used to help decide what happens next. “The results will be used to inform the future of the wind farm, including the option to rebuild the wind turbines with newer technology, increasing the generation capacity,” he said. He added the wind farm was an iconic landmark and promised local people would be consulted on any plans. “Community engagement is important, and we will continue to share information and provide updates,” he said. The plans would have to go to the (City of Albany) for approval. The current turbines, which are 65m with a blade span of 70m, generate 35.4 megawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately 12,000 homes. It has been generating energy for more than 20 years and, when it was commissioned in 2001 with 12 turbines, it was the biggest in Australia. Six more turbines were added in 2011. As well as generating clean energy, the site is also a tourist attraction, with upwards of 200,000 visitors a year exploring the boardwalks and walking the small section of the Bibbulmun Track. While the City of Albany is not involved in the running of the wind farm, it advocates for renewable energy and has sustainability targets. City of Albany executive director of infrastructure, development and environment Paul Camins said they would be open to upgrading the wind farm. “Albany was one of the first regional cities in Australia to embrace wind power, and we are proud of the role we have played in advancing renewable energy,” he said. “We would be open to considering any proposed upgrades to the wind farm and exploring options that make use of improved technology to further reduce emissions and support clean energy generation in our region. “We know our community values Albany’s unique natural and coastal landscapes, so any proposal would need to be carefully assessed and considered.”