Harvesting the Roaring Forties
Australia's wind resource is among the best in the world, providing a consistent, cost-effective backbone for the national grid.
A National Resource
Australia sits at the edge of the "Roaring Forties"—strong westerly winds that circle the Southern Hemisphere. This geographical advantage has turned wind power into the country's leading source of large-scale renewable energy, contributing significantly to the decarbonisation of the National Electricity Market (NEM).
By 2024, wind energy accounts for approximately 13% of Australia's total electricity generation, with South Australia frequently reaching periods where wind provides over 100% of the state's demand.
Australian wind farms often achieve capacity factors above 35%, significantly higher than global averages.
Key clusters in the Mid-West of WA, the Spencer Gulf in SA, and the Great Dividing Range in NSW/VIC.
The Offshore Frontier
While onshore wind has dominated for two decades, Australia is now entering the era of massive offshore developments.
Gippsland Zone
The first declared offshore wind zone in Victoria. Home to the proposed 2.2GW 'Star of the South' project, which could power 1.2 million homes.
Hunter Region
Leveraging existing transmission infrastructure from coal plants, the Hunter offshore zone in NSW is set to become a green energy export hub.
Illawarra Zone
Providing high-capacity power to the steelworks and heavy industry in Wollongong, critical for the 'Green Steel' revolution.
Engineering Scale
Modern wind turbines in Australia are feats of engineering. A single rotation of a large 6MW turbine can power an average Australian home for a full day.
| Metric | Standard Specs |
|---|---|
| Blade Tip Height | Up to 260 metres |
| Rotor Diameter | 160 - 220 metres |
| Capacity per Turbine | 4MW to 15MW (Offshore) |
| Operational Life | 25 - 30 Years |
Current Major Projects
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MacIntyre Wind Farm (QLD)
At 1,026MW, it will be one of the largest onshore wind farms in the Southern Hemisphere once fully operational.
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Golden Plains (VIC)
A 1.3GW project divided into two stages, significantly boosting Victoria's renewable output.
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Coopers Gap (QLD)
A massive project in the Darling Downs, marking Queensland's serious entry into the wind market.
Interested in seeing how much wind is contributing to the grid right now?
View Live Market DataIntegrating with the Community
Wind farms in Australia often operate alongside traditional agriculture. Sheep and cattle graze right up to the base of the turbines, providing farmers with a "drought-proof" income stream through lease payments.
