Whyalla West

Why are you developing the project here?

South Australia has some of the strongest and most consistent wind resources in Australia, particularly in regional areas.

In assessing a project site for development, we consider a range of factors to determine the site’s suitability; primarily:

Quality, reliability and nature of the wind resource.
Access to existing or future planned electrical transmission infrastructure.
Our ability to mitigate, minimise, or manage potential project impacts in line with our strict and comprehensive regulatory obligations.

This site was selected for its strong wind resource potential, offering proximity to major industrial hubs and emerging development regions while remaining distant from environmentally sensitive and biodiverse areas.

Projects like Whyalla West will help support South Australia’s transition toward a modern, low-emissions electricity system. By generating renewable energy locally and connecting into the grid, wind farms contribute to powering homes, businesses and industries across the state.

What is the timeline for this project?

We’re still in the very early stages of the project, and timing is dependent on a number of factors.

Development of a renewable energy project is an iterative process, unfolding over several years. It involves extensive resource modelling, environmental assessments, economic viability reviews, and detailed project planning.

Whyalla West is currently in the Project Feasibility stage, where our priority is understanding the wind, environment, Traditional Owners, and local community. For us, project feasibility isn’t just about technical studies — it’s about listening, learning, and ensuring we do right by everyone involved.

Following this stage, the project will progress through detailed assessments and the planning and environmental approvals process, which can take several years to complete.

We partner with stakeholders at every stage of the project, and early feedback helps to shape project design and ensure the outcomes benefit the community and align with regional priorities.

What is the approvals process for a project like this?

All proposed renewable energy developments in South Australia require distinct approvals from Local, State and Federal Government authorities.

We will keep community and project stakeholders informed and provide plenty of opportunity for input as this work progresses.

Federal Government Requirements

At the Federal level, projects are assessed against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which protects matters of national environmental significance.

State Government Requirements

The project must also meet the requirements of South Australia’s Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023 (SA), which regulates and licenses renewable energy projects and is administered by the Department for Energy and Mining. As part of the licensing process, projects are assessed against a range of environmental, social and technical considerations, including vegetation management, visual amenity and acoustic amenity.

Local Government Requirements

Finally, specific activities to enable project delivery can require local government approval, for example, access to council roads, waste management, zoning etc.

Have the Traditional Owners been consulted and are they engaged in project development?

Windlab is committed to working in genuine partnership with Traditional Owners to ensure their views are meaningfully incorporated into the project. We are focused on obtaining free, prior, and informed consent, and ensuring that cultural heritage values are respected and protected throughout all stages of development, construction and operation.

We are engaged in discussions with the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation and look forward to continuing to build our relationship and ensure their feedback is incorporated in the project to deliver equitable benefits.

How will Windlab consult with the community and stakeholders about the project?

Nobody knows a community better than the locals. We are looking forward to getting to know the community and project stakeholders and understanding their priorities.

Windlab is dedicated to working closely with host communities to minimise the impact of our projects and deliver tangible local benefits.

Windlab ensures Traditional Owners, landowners, neighbours, community and stakeholders are included in the development process, have the opportunity to be heard, and addresses their questions. As the project progresses, we will engage through a variety of mediums including face-to-face meetings, drop-in sessions, attendance at community events, emails and letter box drops, as well as our dedicated website.

We highly value community feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts and questions with us, at any time by contacting us.

Will there be opportunities for local businesses and workers?

Windlab has a proven track record of unlocking opportunities for regional businesses and workforce through our projects. Contractors are required to prepare Local Content Plans, and we actively engage with councils, regional industry bodies and Traditional Owner businesses to maximise regional economic participation.

Early engagement during the planning and approvals phases will identify local contract and employment opportunities, aligning with regional aspirations.

What benefits will this project bring to the region?

By engaging early with local communities, we aim to ensure the project delivers long-term, tangible benefits tailored to local interests and capacities.

The project will bring significant investment to the region and help boost local economic activity. Our focus on local procurement and employment means we actively work to maximise opportunities for local businesses and jobseekers throughout the construction and operations phases.

We’re also committed to supporting local skills development and partnering with community organisations to create benefit-sharing frameworks that leave a lasting, positive legacy.

Will Windlab be providing sponsorships and donations for local community groups and organisations?

Windlab is committed to partnering with communities and supporting initiatives that help them to thrive. Our approach includes working with Councils and the community to codesign community benefit strategies that are tailored to the region’s needs and aligned to generation output.

In this early stage, Windlab has begun early discussion with local community groups to explore opportunities to connect with and support community initiatives and events.

Typically, we introduce community benefit funds once the project reaches financial close to support stakeholder and community-led projects that deliver on local aspirations and establish a positive legacy.

How will Windlab manage any potential impacts from the project?

One of the most effective ways we manage potential impacts is by avoiding or minimising them through design. We do this by ensuring input from Traditional Owners, stakeholders and the community is considered alongside expert advice and evidence.

We invest in robust impact assessment and mitigation studies, and provide regular opportunities for local people and stakeholders to build their understanding of the project, provide feedback on the design options and alternatives, and talk with the project team about their concerns and priorities.

Throughout the development phase, we continuously refine the project’s design in a way that balances all the inputs gathered through the process – from land use constraints and stakeholder feedback to ecology survey results, wind energy yield data and construction logistics.

Where the potential impacts can’t be avoided, we work with locals to ensure management approaches and regulatory requirements are clearly understood and aligned with community expectations.

Will the project impact the productivity of existing agricultural operations?

Renewable energy projects are highly compatible with grazing operations, with sheep able to graze right up to the base of the turbines.

Our design process includes early consultation with host landholders to develop a project layout that minimises disruption to farming practices.

Additionally, hosting renewable energy projects can help landholders diversify their operations, and provides a predictable annual income stream that can insulate against feed and stock price volatility and the impact of drought and other severe weather events on production.

Are wind farms noisy?

Wind turbines make low levels of noise which drop significantly the further you are from the turbine. For example, from a 500-metre distance, modern wind turbines have an average sound level around 40 decibels, which is about the same as a household refrigerator.

In South Australia there are limits to how close wind turbines can be placed to an occupied dwelling. These limits are based on the noise (dB(A)) they produce and generally means wind turbines cannot be placed within 1.5km of these buildings.

At this setback, wind turbine noise is unlikely to be audible over background noise levels, which are around 30 decibels on average in the stillest, most remote rural areas.

As a condition of Development Approval, all wind farms must comply with strict State regulatory requirements that ensure any potential risk of noise from the project does not exceed maximum thresholds.

The specific noise limits are:

35dB(A) at a dwelling, or
No more than 5dB(A) above the ‘background noise’ level at a dwelling.

Isn't renewable energy unreliable?

No. While Australia’s abundant solar and wind resources are highly predictable, they are variable throughout the day, across the seasons, and between locations. For this reason, the location of new renewable energy developments matters, and getting the balance right between wind and solar generation is critical.

South Australia has some of the strongest wind resources in the country. This resource is ‘inversely correlated’ with solar, making it critical in the energy generation mix. Today, a large share of South Australia’s electricity is generated from renewable sources.

Does renewable energy increase electricity costs?

No. Australia needs more energy generation to supply demand. The CSIRO’s 2024-25 GenCost Report highlights that wind and solar remain the most cost-effective options for new electricity generation in Australia, even when you consider additional costs like storage and infrastructure.

What happens when the project reaches the end of its operational life?

When renewable energy projects reach the end of their life, all above ground project infrastructure is dismantled and removed from the site. The operating footprint, including tracks, hardstands or laydown areas that had to be maintained throughout the operating phase, will be rehabilitated and restored to native ecosystems in line with our commitments to our landholders and regulatory requirements.

End-of-asset life decommissioning and rehabilitation plans are a regulatory requirement, and a condition of development approval in South Australia.

Windlab takes this commitment further by including decommissioning planning and financing conditions into lease agreements with host landholders before construction even starts.

Why wind?

Australia needs more power generation to meet increased demand. Wind is proven technology for energy production, and according to data informing the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan, is the cheapest energy source per megawatt when comparing the costs associated with building new energy generation assets.

South Australia is home to an abundant wind resource with an ‘inverse correlation’ to solar. That means it’s windy here late in the afternoon and overnight, when solar generation is coming off the grid, helping to stabilise the grid throughout the day and provide low costs to consumers.

Who is Windlab?

Windlab is Australia’s renewable energy pioneer.

For over 20 years, we have set new standards in the development and construction of clean energy infrastructure through an unwavering commitment to balance the needs of our stakeholders, community, Country, and the environment.

As owners and operators of some of Australia’s most significant renewable energy projects, we know how important it is to keep raising the bar and delivering meaningful value for all — ultimately making renewables the easy choice for our future.

Windlab employs about 100 people located across metro and regional Australia and has four offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

For more information about Windlab, visit www.windlab.com.

Whyalla West

Wind Farm

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Whyalla West

Wind Farm

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