Overview
Sapphire Wind Farm is a 270 MW onshore wind facility in New South Wales, Australia, operated by CWP Renewables. It contributes to Australia's renewable energy transition under the national Renewable Energy Target.
Sapphire Wind Farm is a 270 MW onshore wind facility located in New South Wales, Australia. Owned and operated by CWP Renewables, it is one of the larger wind farms in the region, supporting the country's shift towards renewable energy. The facility is operational and feeds into the National Electricity Market. The 270 MW capacity places Sapphire Wind Farm in the large-scale category for Australian wind projects. It utilizes modern wind turbine technology to harness the region's wind resources. Australia's renewable energy sector is supported by the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme, which encourages large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) for eligible facilities. Environmentally, the wind farm contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel generation. It also supports local energy security and grid stability. The project underwent environmental assessments to mitigate impacts on local wildlife and land use, typical for onshore wind developments in Australia.
Environmental context
The Sapphire Wind Farm is situated in the New England region of New South Wales, an area with strong and consistent wind resources ideal for wind energy generation. The local environment includes agricultural land and native vegetation. Wind farms in this region are designed to minimize impacts on bird and bat populations through careful siting and operational curtailments. The project supports Australia's goal of 82% renewable electricity by 2030.
Frequently asked questions
Sapphire Wind Farm is located in New South Wales, Australia, near the town of Glen Innes. Its coordinates are approximately 29.7°S, 151.4°E.
Sapphire Wind Farm has a capacity of 270 megawatts (MW), making it a large-scale wind energy facility.
Sapphire Wind Farm is owned by CWP Renewables, a company specializing in renewable energy projects in Australia.
Australia's Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme provides incentives for large-scale renewable energy projects through Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs). State-level policies also support wind energy development.
By generating clean electricity, Sapphire Wind Farm reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports Australia's goal of achieving 82% renewable electricity by 2030.