Xinjiang Goldwind to connect 182.5MW wind farm to Australian Grid

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co and TransGrid have entered into a grid connection agreement for the connection of the turbines at the 182.5MW Gullen Range Wind Farm with the national grid in Australia.

The Gullen Range Wind Farm in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands consists of 73 Goldwind Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) turbines each with a generating capacity of 2.5MW of clean energy.

The PMDD wind turbines will be connected to the TransGrid’s 330kV transmission network.

TransGrid managing director Peter McIntyre said the connection agreement with Goldwind facilitates the connection of new generation into Australia’s national electricity market.

“The NSW transmission network is an efficient and secure platform to connect the Goldwind Gullen Range Wind Farm to the national grid, helping facilitate a competitive and efficient national electricity market,” McIntyre added.

“The energy industry is undergoing a period of significant change and transmission networks will be a key facilitator in the shift to lower emission and renewable energy generation sources.”

The PMDD turbines have a power converter that is controllable and no reactive plant is needed at the wind farm for it.

The construction of the wind project is scheduled to commence in October 2012 and is planned to be energised in late 2013.

Goldwind Australia managing director John Titchen said the Gullen Range is Goldwind’s second wind farm in Australia and the first to use 2.5 MW PMDD wind turbines.

“The project now has both a Grid Connection Agreement and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA),” Titchen added.

“We are looking forward to energising the wind farm in late 2013.”

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology is manufacturer of wind turbines in China.

TransGrid is the owner, operator and manager of the New South Wales high voltage network connecting generators, distributors and major end users in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.