Mount Millar Wind Farm

The Mount Millar Wind Farm is situated on an escarpment between the towns of Cowell and Cleve located 100 kilometres southwest of Whyalla, South Australia. The 35 wind turbines are positioned on the elongated Mount Millar site (about 7 kilometres in length) to maximise wind exposure. The wind farm can generate up to 70 megawatts of electricity and will provide enough energy to meet the needs of about 36,000 typical households.

Because wind farms do not emit greenhouse gases in the generation of electricity, wind energy is considered a highly desirable form of renewable energy and assists in the reduction of the State’s reliance on coal and gas fired electricity generation. The Mount Millar Wind Farm connects to ElectraNet’s existing transmission network at Yadnarie Substation, via a new 33 km 132kV overhead transmission line and substation.

The $130 million project was developed by Tarong Energy Corporation Ltd, which has interests in both Queensland and South Australia (including South Australia’s first wind farm, see Starfish Hill Wind Farm). The Mount Millar wind farm was acquired by Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund, and in 2010 onsold to Meridian Energy.