A groundbreaking proposal for a 224MW wind farm and a substantial 100MW battery with a four-hour storage capacity in northern Tasmania has been submitted to the federal government.
This project aims to significantly contribute to the island state’s ambitious green hydrogen initiatives.
Northeast Tasmanian Renewable Energy Zone: A Strategic Location for Renewable Energy Development
The Bell Bay wind farm, put forward by Equis, is slated for development within the Northeast Tasmanian Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). This zone is strategically located 6 km northeast of George Town and 1 km southwest of Beechford.
This ambitious project will feature 28 eight-megawatt wind turbines, representing the most powerful wind turbines ever installed in Australia. These towering structures will reach a tip height of up to 270 meters and a hub height of up to 180 meters.
A Leap Forward from Australia’s Current Largest Wind Project
In comparison, Australia’s current largest wind project, the 1.3 gigawatt Golden Plains facility in Victoria, utilizes 6.2 MW turbines with a hub height of 149 meters. The Bell Bay project signifies a substantial advancement in wind energy technology and capacity.
The project has been opened for public comment as part of its assessment under the federal government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The application referral emphasizes Tasmania’s abundant wind resources and the region’s historical significance in energy generation and industrial development.
Powering the Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub
Equis highlights the project’s strategic positioning to support the federal Labor government’s investment in the Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub, located just 8 km south and adjacent to the wind farm’s proposed grid connection point. This alignment underscores the project’s potential to contribute to Australia’s green hydrogen goals.
The Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub has been identified by the Albanese government as one of Australia’s most promising green hydrogen endeavors. It has received substantial funding from both federal and state governments to develop the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen production, storage, transport, and export.
Renewable Energy for Green Hydrogen Production
The Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub is expected to be operational by 2028, with a projected annual production of 45,000 tonnes of green hydrogen. Achieving this ambitious target will necessitate a significant supply of renewable energy, which the Bell Bay wind farm is poised to provide.
For Equis, the Bell Bay project is part of a broader portfolio of renewable energy projects in Australia. This portfolio includes up to 800MW of wind projects in Tasmania and five large battery storage projects across four other states.
Equis: A Legacy of Renewable Energy Development
Equis, originally a Singapore-based company, has a notable history in the renewable energy sector, including the construction of South Australia’s first solar farm at Tailem Bend. The company underwent changes in ownership and branding but has reemerged with renewed focus and backing from prominent investors.
Equis’s initial plans for wind development in Tasmania focused on the 42MW Low Head wind farm. However, the company has now shifted its attention to the much larger Bell Bay project, which shares some land with the previously approved Low Head project.
Strategic Location Near the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone
If approved, the Equis wind farm and battery project would be strategically located near the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone. This zone has been selected by Sun Cable as the preferred site for manufacturing high-voltage sub-sea cables for the world’s largest solar and battery project.
Equis is also involved in the development of one of Australia’s largest grid-scale batteries at the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub in Victoria. This substantial battery project, with a capacity of 600 MW and 1600 MWh, is co-funded by the Victorian government’s State Electricity Commission (SEC).
Approval Process and Timeline
The Bell Bay wind farm project awaits approval from both the Tasmanian planning department and the federal environment minister. Equis aims to secure all necessary approvals by 2026, with the wind farm becoming operational by 2029. This ambitious project is expected to generate approximately 800 jobs during its construction phase.