Bowmans Creek Wind Farm (Bowmans) is proposed to be developed approximately 10km east of Muswellbrook in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Australia.
The 347MW wind farm representing an investment of approximately A$569m ($370.3m) is owned by Ark Energy, an Australian subsidiary of Korea Zinc.
The State Significant Development (SSD-10315) application was lodged in 2021.
The number of wind turbines was reduced to 56 from 60 in response to community concerns.
Project Gallery
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Bowmans Creek Wind Farm is proposed to be developed approximately 10km east of Muswellbrook in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Australia. (Credit: Pexels/Pixabay)
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The 347-megawatt (MW) wind farm representing an investment of approximately A$569 million ($370.3) is owned by Ark Energy, an Australian subsidiary of Korea Zinc. (Credit: VIVIANE M./Pixabay)
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The NSW IPC approved the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm in February 2024. (Credit: Lukas Bieri/Pixabay)
The construction timeframe for the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm is approximately 18 months and the life of the project is 25 years.
Bowmans Creek wind farm is estimated to generate enough electricity to power over 172,600 homes and save over 957,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Location Details
Bowmans Creek Wind Farm is located approximately 185km north of Sydney, near the sparsely populated rural localities of Bowmans Creek, Davis Creek, Goorangoola, Greenlands, Hebden, McCullys Gap, Muscle Creek and Rouchel Brook.
The onshore wind farm’s total development footprint, including road upgrades, is approximately 411 hectares (ha), out of which 280ha is native vegetation.
Bowmans Creek Wind Farm Background Details
In October 2017, Epuron commenced wind monitoring onsite using a portable SoDAR (sonic detection and ranging) device and has deployed additional SoDAR devices including two wind monitoring masts.
The Application for State Significant Development Consent and the project’s Scoping Report was submitted to the New South Wales (NSW) Government in May 2019.
In May 2022, Ark Energy Corporation completed the acquisition of Epuron Holdings (original proponent), after the sale agreement received regulatory approvals.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) completed its whole-of-government assessment of the project and referred it to the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for determination in November 2023.
The NSW IPC approved the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm in February 2024.
The project involves a Community Enhancement Fund of A$3,842 ($2501) per wind turbine per year, from the start of generation to the end of life of the wind farm, indexed to CPI. Based on the proposed layout of 56 wind turbines and an estimated operational life of 25 years, the Community Enhancement Fund amounts to A$215,000 ($139965) per year to support local initiatives and projects.
Bowmans Creek Wind Farm Project Details
The project development plan includes 56 turbines with a generating capacity ranging between 5 to 7 MW and associated ancillary infrastructure, including two onsite substations and a new 330-kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect to the Liddell substation.
The maximum height of the wind turbine generators (WTG) is 220m from ground level to the blade tip.
Each WTG) will be mounted on a reinforced concrete footing accompanied by a transformer and will be controlled remotely from the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) facility. The 45m tall towers will be spaced at intervals of 200 - 300m depending on topography.
The WTGs produce electricity at 690 voltage, which will be stepped up to 33 kV by the transformer within the WTG for more efficient reticulation within the site.
Power generated from the WTGs is sent to the substations via the reticulation cables and powerlines. Underground cables of approximately 40km will be installed in trenches approximately 2m wide and 1m deep. The approximately 17km overhead transmission line will be supported by single-pole steel or concrete structures.
The transformer in the substations will step up the reticulation voltage (33 kV) to (up to 330kV).
The generated green electricity will be exported to the existing TransGrid network via the Liddell substation through a new single or double-circuit 330 kV transmission line.
Contractors Involved
Green Bean Design (GBD) was engaged to undertake a Preliminary Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (PLVIA) for the project.
Sonus, an Australia-based acoustic services provider was contracted to undertake the Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment for the Bowmans Creek wind farm.