Coopers Gap Wind Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coopers Gap Wind Farm |
|
|---|---|
Coopers Gap Wind Farm in 2021
|
|
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Bilboa and Cooranga North, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 26°44′35″S 151°27′00″E / 26.743°S 151.45°E |
| Status | Commissioned |
| Construction began | February 2018 |
| Commission date | 2020 |
| Construction cost | A$850 million |
| Owner(s) | Powering Australian Renewables Fund |
| Operator(s) | AGL Energy |
| Website https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/coopers-gap-wind-farm |
|
The Coopers Gap Wind Farm is a huge wind farm in Queensland, Australia. It can produce 453 megawatts of electricity. This is enough to power many homes! It is located in the Western Downs and South Burnett areas.
The wind farm is about 175 kilometers (109 miles) north-west of Brisbane. It is also near the towns of Kingaroy and Dalby. When it was finished in April 2020, it was the biggest wind farm in Australia. It held this record until December 2020.
Contents
Where is the Wind Farm?
The Coopers Gap Wind Farm is built in a hilly area. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north-west of the Bunya Mountains. The land there is mostly open, used for cattle grazing.
The wind farm covers about 10,200 hectares (25,200 acres). This is a very large area! The land goes from 535 meters (1,755 feet) to 840 meters (2,756 feet) high. The project is spread across two local government areas.
How the Wind Farm Started
Finding the Perfect Spot
Experts found this windy spot in late 2005. They used special technology called WindScape to map the wind. In March 2006, they put up a 60-meter (197-foot) tall pole. This pole had instruments to measure wind speed and direction.
After a year of collecting wind data, the company started planning. They began to get the land ready for the project.
Getting Approval
In 2009, everyone expected the project to get approval soon. However, things took a bit longer.
In April 2011, some people living nearby shared their worries. They were concerned about the noise from the wind turbines. Some turbines would be less than a kilometer from their homes.
Finally, in March 2017, the project was officially approved. The plan allowed for up to 115 turbines. Each turbine could be as tall as 180 meters (591 feet).
Building and First Power
Construction began in February 2018. The very first turbine started making electricity on June 24, 2019. This power went into the main electricity grid.
In June 2021, there was a report about a faulty turbine. One tower had to be taken down in May 2021. Also, about 50 other turbines needed new parts. This happened because of issues found during testing.
About the Project
For a while, Coopers Gap was Australia's largest wind farm. It can produce up to 453 MW of power. It is expected to generate about 1.51 million megawatt-hours of energy each year. This is a huge amount of clean energy!
The wind farm has 123 turbines. They are spread out along different hills. Each wind turbine is about 180 meters (591 feet) tall. This is from the bottom of the tower to the tip of the blade.
Most of the turbines (91 of them) are 3.6 MW each. Their towers are 110 meters (361 feet) high. Their blades are about 67.2 meters (220 feet) long. This means the circle they make is 137 meters (449 feet) across.
There are also 32 slightly different turbines. These are 3.8 MW each. Their blades make a circle 130 meters (427 feet) across. Their towers are a bit taller, at 115 meters (377 feet).
The project cost about A$850 million to build. This was less than first thought, which is good!
How Electricity Gets to Your Home
The electricity from each turbine travels through cables. These cables are either underground or above ground. They all lead to a central point at the wind farm's substation. A substation is like a hub for electricity.
The substation then connects directly to the main electricity grid. This is the network that delivers power to homes and businesses. The Coopers Gap Wind Farm helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can cut down on about 2.2 million tonnes of these gases every year. This is great for our planet!
How the Wind Farm Works Today
The Coopers Gap Wind Farm started producing power in June 2019. It was fully ready to go in June 2021. It was planned to be finished by late 2020.
On June 19, 2021, the wind farm reached a high output. It produced 438.2 MW of power. This was almost its full capacity!
The wind farm continues to produce a lot of clean energy for Queensland.
