Renewable energy,
from the heart of Tasmania

Photo from engineersaustralia.org.au

When the Waddamana Power Station opened in 1916, it was the first renewable energy project in Tasmania. When the Lake Echo Power Station opened in 1956, it secured the Central Highland’s position as the state’s home of renewable energy. The Bashan Wind Farm plans to continue this tradition of renewable energy, from the heart of Tasmania.

Bashan Wind Farm – Location

Location

The proposed Bashan Wind Farm is located within the Victoria Valley, north of Victoria Valley Road, east of Lake Echo, west of Bashan Road and South of the Cattle Hill Wind Farm.

Rationale

Thanks to the Waddamana Power Station, and adjoining Lake Echo Power Station, the TasNetworks overhead transmission lines already exist and cross right through the middle of the Bashan Wind Farm site. This means no additional overhead lines, and no major network augmentation is required to connect the project to the electricity grid.

It’s also right next to Cattle Hill Wind Farm, which has been in operation since 2020, efficiently run by our all-Tasmanian service team. All the work we’ve done at Cattle Hill Wind Farm means we know this area well and have learnt a lot about managing local species and habitat. We’ve implemented successful programs and initiatives for many species and vegetation communities which are also present on the Bashan Wind Farm site, including wombats, devils, eagles, orchids such as liawanee greenhood, and grassland communities such as Highland Poa. We’ll be implementing these programs and initiatives at the Bashan Wind Farm too.

We are being mindful of local wildlife while developing the layout and are undertaking extensive monitoring via a network of wildlife cameras throughout the site to understand species presence and movements, so we can design a wind farm that suits wildlife as well as people. We are avoiding placement of turbines in areas of remnant vegetation or protected flora or vegetation communities and are leaving the best foraging areas completely undeveloped. More details can be found on the environment page.

Land secured for the project is within the candidate Central Highlands Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and is considered suitable for the co-location of renewable energy projects.

Bashan Wind Farm – Proposal

Development

The proposed development could host between 50 to 60 turbines, depending on the final turbine model. We are looking at three options and testing which is best for the site – it might be a combination. The largest of the turbines has the capacity to generate 8 MW of renewable energy, and the smallest 6.0 MW. That’s a lot of energy from just one turbine. For example, the Bashan Wind Farm could deliver the same output of Cattle Hill Wind Farm’s 48 turbines, using only 18 of the larger turbines. This means there will be even less disturbance building this wind farm.

Turbines

Goldwind Smart Turbines will be used to generate renewable energy from wind for the project. We are currently reviewing turbines in the 6.0 to 8.0 MW range to determine the optimum turbine model (or combination of turbine models) for the project, based on the topography and wind conditions on site.

These larger turbines mean less hardstands, and less physical disturbance, but getting some of the components such as rotor blades to site will be a challenge. We are working with regulators, logistics companies, and engineers to find the best solution for transport of components.

Visibility

It’s hard to build a large wind farm that can’t be seen from public places but that’s what we’re trying to do.

We are underway with visual impact studies, having listened to those around us and developing the least visible wind farm we can.

There’s still more to be done, but rest assured we’ll plan, design, build and operate the project responsibly.

Build

Construction is expected to require about 36 months from commencement of works. Road upgrades and other infrastructure will be designed in consultation with relevant stakeholders such as Tasmanian Fire Services and Central Highlands Council.

We hold ourselves to high standards and have signed the Clean Energy Council’s Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Projects.