Renewable energy resources of New South Wales

Wind

Ballina

REFERENCE Moree Wind power generator capacity (megawatts) Grafton 100 < 1000 10 < 100 Bourke 1 < 10 less than 1 Co­s Harbour

Armidale Wind speed (metres per second) 10.2 Tamworth

6.3 Cobar Nyngan Port Macquarie

2.4

Topographic Broken Hill Dubbo City, town Highway State border Newcastle Key transmission lines (kilovolts) Orange Forbes 66 132 370 people directly employed (2014–15) 220 & 330 Sydney 500 * Mildura 1725 Hay Wollongong GWh generated (2015)

Wagga Goulburn Wagga 7 major* wind farms Major project – over 30 MW. Gullen Range A.C.T. Capacity: 172 MW Batemans Bay 327 0 200 km wind turbines Albury Capacity: 140 MW 650 MW maximum capacity Bega

Boco Rock Wind Farm Eden Capacity: 114 MW

NT QLD This map shows modelled onshore and offshore mean annual wind WA speed data, and the location and capacity of operating wind farms. SA The modelled wind speed data has a spatial resolution of 1 km and is presented at 100 m above the ground. This height is representative of ACT hub heights used for modern wind turbines. Hub height refers to the VIC height of a wind turbine, excluding the length of the turbine blades. TAS www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au (107 MW), all of which have been Wind Onshore and offshore wind provided by Garrad Hassan Pacific Pty Ltd Glossary (DNV GL) https://www.dnvgl.com/energy Wind energy commissioned since late 2009. Infographics and figure data sources In 2015, wind energy provided 2.5% of total electricity capacity the amount of energy generated for any length Economic Capacity and generation data compiled by NSW Division of What is wind energy? generated in NSW (including ACT). of time. This map indicates capacity as a megawatt (MW). Resources and Energy includes data for Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This Wind energy is generated by converting wind currents is shown using an asterisk (*). What is the future of wind energy in NSW? commissioned the end of a process whereby a generator Note: The capacity data represents maximum capacity where available. into other forms of energy using wind turbines. Wind (solar plant or wind farm) prepares to supply Employment Data derived from Australian Bureau of Statistics 4631.0 – turbines convert kinetic energy in the wind into Wind energy is a rapidly growing source of renewable electricity to the grid Employment in Renewable Energy Activities, Australia, 2014–15. energy. New wind farms are being constructed in the mechanical power, which can be used for specific tasks energy the ability to do ‘work’ or to ‘make something Project data are stored in the DiGS catalogue searchgeoscience.nsw.gov.au (like pumping water) or converted into electricity using New England region, and elsewhere there are a number happen’. It can exist in different forms, such Topographic base a generator. Wind energy is currently the cheapest of proposed new farms, such as Uungula Wind Farm, as thermal (heat), kinetic, electrical, chemical © Land and Property Information, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795. www.lpi.nsw.gov.au renewable energy and as a result has experienced Liverpool Range Wind Farm and . and potential (stored). Energy is measured in joules (J). © State of New South Wales acting through the Department of Industry, Skills significant growth. NSW has great potential to access offshore wind and Regional Development 2016 (Department of Industry). This work (with the resources but there are currently no plans to develop direct employment fulltime equivalent of employment hours (FTE) exception of the Government Coat of Arms, any government owned trade- What can wind energy be used for? mark, logo or brand and third party content) is licensed by the Department of offshore wind projects. kinetic energy the energy of an object that is moving Industry under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wind energy has been used for centuries for mechanical energy energy associated with movement, or kinetic pumping bore water, milling flour and other direct use NSW & ACT in wind energy energy combined with potential (stored) energy applications. In the 21st century it is commonly used for one MW = one million (1 000 000) watts 2000 megawatt (MW) electricity generation. Wind farms typically combine Attribution must be given in this form: spatial resolution measure of the accuracy or detail of an image © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Industry, Skills and the output of multiple wind turbines to the electricity or data Regional Development 2016. grid. Globally there are many onshore and offshore 1500 transmission the movement of electricity along transmission Disclaimer wind energy projects. The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and lines once it leaves the understanding at the time of compilation (2016). However, because of advances watt a measure of the flow rate of electricity, in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon Are there wind resources in NSW? which they rely is up to date. 1000 equivalent to one joule of energy per second.

NSW has world-class wind resources. The east coast GWh One joule is the internationally recognised unit NSW Department of Industry takes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, for measuring energy of all types. reliability and correctness of any information in the map (including, without and areas along the higher exposed parts of the Great limitation, any of the information provided by third parties) nor for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of links or references to information sources Dividing Range, such as the Southern Highlands and 500 New England areas, have been identified as some of (including Internet sites) with regard to the map. References While all reasonable care has been taken in the compilation, to the extent Australia’s best areas for wind resources. The best permitted by law, NSW Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Australian Renewable Energy Agency 2016. What is renewable energy? sites have a combination of high average wind speeds, Development and the State of New South Wales and its employees and agents http://arena.gov.au/about-renewable-energy/ (accessed 11 consistent winds and smooth landscapes.These sites exclude all liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information, or for 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 February, 2016). any injury, loss, or damage whatsoever (including without limitation liability are not restricted to coastal regions. Many of the for negligence and consequential losses) suffered by any person acting, or Clean Energy Council 2016. Technologies. https://www. most suitable sites in NSW are located near existing purporting to act in reliance upon anything contained herein. NSW direct FTE employment in wind energy cleanenergycouncil.org.au/technologies.html (accessed 15 electricity grid infrastructure. February, 2016). Maitland office: 516 High Street, Maitland, NSW, 2320, Australia. 400 Ph: +61 2 4931 6666 Due to its long coastline and stable continental shelf, Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development 2015. NSW Email: [email protected] NSW has the potential for offshore wind power Renewable Energy Action Plan Annual Report 2015. Department of www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au Industry, Skills and Regional Development, Sydney. generation. As technology continues to improve this 300 could unlock great potential for the state. Geoscience Australia 2016. Other Renewable Energy Resources. http:// www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/energy/resources/other-renewable- How is wind energy used in NSW? energy-resources (accessed 11 February, 2016). 200 There are currently 11 operational wind farms in NSW. Geoscience Australia & Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics 2014. Australian Energy Resource Assessment (2nd Edition). Geoscience The largest wind farm is the , Australia, Canberra. Direct FTE jobs commissioned in December 2014 with a 172 MW 100 capacity, with the potential to generate enough energy Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty Ltd 2016. Gullen Range Wind Farm. http://www.gullenrangewindfarm.com/ (accessed 15 February, 2016). for over 60 000 homes. Other wind farms with a capacity greater than 100 MW include the Capital Wind Farm (140 MW), (113 MW), and 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 Credits Bibliographic reference Wade S.L., Barry C.M. & Nelson M.D. (compilers) 2016. Renewable energy map of New South Wales: wind resource fact sheet. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Maitland. Content compilation Boco Rock Wind Farm, 30 km north of Bombala. C.M. Barry, S.L. Wade & M.D. Nelson Map compilation and cartography S.L. Watson & P.J. Carter Graphic design and layout M.C. Cox Editing G.M. Cox With special thanks to the NSW Renewable Energy Map Steering Committee and Advisory Board. Data sources Note: All numbers have been rounded to whole numbers or one decimal point where possible. Generator capacity data Compiled by NSW Division of Resources and Energy from Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Current Registration and Exemption lists where available and various company data sources. Note: The resource maps show call outs for large renewable energy generators with greater than 30 MW capacity. These are maximum capacity values as listed Photo courtesy of CWP Renewables. by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) registration list 11 April 2016. www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au