Overview
Lake Bonney Stage 3 Wind Farm is a 39 MW onshore wind facility in South Australia, operated by Infigen Energy. It contributes to Australia's renewable energy capacity under the national Renewable Energy Target.
Lake Bonney Stage 3 Wind Farm is an operational onshore wind facility located in South Australia, near the town of Millicent. With a capacity of 39 MW, it is a medium-scale wind farm that forms part of the larger Lake Bonney wind energy complex. The facility is owned by Infigen Energy, a key player in Australia's renewable energy sector. The wind farm utilizes modern wind turbine technology to convert wind energy into electricity. Australia's renewable energy landscape is supported by the national Renewable Energy Target (RET), which aims to generate 33,000 GWh of renewable electricity annually by 2020. State-level policies, such as South Australia's Renewable Energy Target, further encourage wind and solar development. The region's strong and consistent wind resources make it ideal for wind power generation. Environmentally, the Lake Bonney Stage 3 Wind Farm contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based electricity. Wind farms in South Australia play a significant role in the state's grid, which has one of the highest penetrations of wind and solar globally. The facility's operation aligns with Australia's transition to a low-carbon energy system, supporting grid stability and renewable energy integration.
Environmental context
South Australia's wind farms, including Lake Bonney Stage 3, operate in a region with strong wind resources, but they also require careful siting to minimize impacts on local bird and bat populations. The visual impact on the rural landscape is managed through planning regulations. Grid integration challenges are addressed through advanced forecasting and energy storage solutions, ensuring reliable power supply.
Frequently asked questions
Lake Bonney Stage 3 Wind Farm is located in South Australia, near the town of Millicent, approximately 400 km southeast of Adelaide.
The wind farm has a capacity of 39 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-scale onshore wind facility.
The facility is owned by Infigen Energy, an Australian renewable energy company that operates several wind farms across the country.
The RET mandates that 33,000 GWh of electricity come from renewable sources by 2020, driving investment in wind and solar projects. Wind farms like Lake Bonney Stage 3 generate Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) that help retailers meet their obligations.
Key considerations include impacts on bird and bat populations, visual amenity, noise, and land use. Developers must conduct environmental assessments and adhere to state guidelines to minimize these effects.