THE FEDERAL Government on Friday [29 August] approved a contentious windfarm for an island off Tasmania’s far north-west coast, over-ruling vocal local opposition.
The $3 billion Robbins Island Wind Farm, to be developed by ACEN Australia, is a 122-turbine project which, when combined with the already-approved Jim’s Plain Wind also in NW Tasmania will generate 900 megawatts, enough to power 700,000 homes, with excess electricity to be transmitted to mainland Australia over the Marinus Link interconnector.
ACEN Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines’ Ayala Group. The company’s website lists 15 solar and wind projects in operation, under construction or in development in Western Australia, NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania
RIWF will cover two-thirds of the privately-owned Robbins Island and was originally proposed in 2017. ACEN says as part of the project it will construct a 1.2 km low-level bridge to the island. To facilitate construction, a 500m wharf will be built on the northeast of Robbins Island for the import of turbine components and equipment. ACEN says this will also help to minimise impacts to local roads.
In granting approval environment minister Murray Watt said additional conditions were attached "to ensure this project will be constructed and operated in a way that safeguards nationally protected species".
"The Australian government has imposed comprehensive conditions, beyond those previously imposed by the Tasmanian government. These include additional conditions to mitigate and manage risks to the critically-endangered Orange-bellied Parrot and to enhance conservation outcomes for the species," Mr Watt said.
ACEN Australia MD David Pollington said the milestone was a key achievement for ACEN, and important for the Tasmanian economy, the nation’s energy transition and the renewable energy industry more broadly.
“The decision shows that large, complex projects can be delivered responsibly, balancing overall impacts and conserving biodiversity, with the need for clean energy to address climate change,” he said. “It comes at a time when Australia faces a stalling energy transition and looming power shortages as coal exits the system.@
Mr Pollington said Robbins Island Wind had an exceptional resource generating 30% more power than the average Australian wind project of comparable size.
The transmission line to connect the project to the grid is following a separate approvals process anticipated to be completed in 2026, allowing the project to start generating power in 2030.