South Australia’s State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) has approved the revised design for Tilt Renewables’ Palmer Wind Farm, a clean energy project capable of powering 142,000 homes for the next 30 years.
Palmer Wind Farm will involve the construction of 40 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of up to 220m. The Project is located 50km east of Adelaide.
It is estimated that the 288MW Palmer Wind Farm will avoid 212,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler said the Palmer Wind Farm was ideally located to take advantage of a strong and consistent wind resource.
“Palmer Wind Farm will help secure the reliability of the electricity grid while reducing Australia’s carbon footprint,” Mr Fowler said.
“The area surrounding Palmer is a good location for a wind farm with a great wind resource, proximity to the existing electricity grid and a location on cleared farmland where grazing can co-exist.”
Mr Fowler said that Tilt Renewables had made significant improvements to the design of the project since it was first approved in 2015.
He added that the Federal Environment Department reviewed the project and was confident that potential impacts to Matters of National Environmental Significance had been avoided and minimised.
“Recent advances in turbine technology mean we can significantly reduce the project area with fewer, taller turbines and bigger setbacks from existing dwellings,” he said.
“This change more than halves the number of turbines required and reduces the project area by over 5,000 hectares.”
As well as providing substantial amounts of clean energy, the project will provide the local community with new jobs, investment, and a community benefit fund worth more than $7 million.
Following engagement with stakeholders and the local community, the fund will provide energy subsidies to those closest to the project, as well as funding to improve mental and physical health services.
The community fund, which will distribute money to community projects each year, will also support adult learners with further education opportunities.
The project is located on the land of the Peramangk people and will provide employment, training, and capacity building opportunities for First Nations people. A Peramangk Partnership Fund will also be established for the life of the project.
In 2024, the project was awarded a Capacity Investment Scheme agreement, an Australian Government revenue underwriting scheme. This Scheme was awarded to projects that demonstrate best practice social and economic benefits for local communities.
“The competitive tender process required Tilt Renewables to demonstrate we will provide best practice social and economic benefits for local communities, First Nations people, and Australian industries,” Mr Fowler said.
The Palmer Wind Farm achieves this by committing:
- $627.5 million over 30 years to local (Australia and New Zealand) content and
employment, including First Nations economic participation and training, and - $10.4 million over 30 years in community and First Nations benefits.
Mr Fowler said that Tilt Renewables would continue to consult with the project’s neighbours and the broader community with a focus on creating opportunities for local employment and services.
