An investigation into the construction of a small wind farm in Tasmania using Chinese wind turbine generator technology was announced at a ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Chinese President Xi.
The Agreement relates to a 10-30MW wind farm that would demonstrate current Chinese wind turbine generator technology which has the potential to enter the Australian market. The intention is to build the ‘testing’ site in the vicinity of one of the operating wind farms owned by Woolnorth Wind Farm Holdings. Woolnorth Wind Farm Holdings is a joint venture between Shenhua Clean Energy (75%) and Hydro Tasmania (25%). Hydro Tasmania and the Shenhua Group signed a strategic co-operation agreement in Beijing in April 2013 to investigate a joint Australian wind portfolio of up to 700MW by 2020. The project would test the technical feasibility of new turbine generation technologies, including integration, operation and new design. It would involve technology from a number of existing Chinese manufacturers.
