Frequently Asked Questions
Will the project receive any Federal or State Government Subsidies?
The Banana Range Wind Farm will not receive any subsidies. Large-scale renewable energy projects are now required to compete head-to-head with other power stations in the electricity market on an equal basis. The cost of energy from the Banana Range Wind Farm will therefore need to be competitive in the electricity wholesale markets for the project to proceed.
EDF Renewables is also responsible for funding transmission lines and infrastructure required to complete the project.
Will noise affect local residents?
The noise levels surrounding a wind farm project must be measured before construction to assess current noise levels and then measured again once a wind farm is built. The noise studies need to be prepared by independent experts and then submitted to Queensland Government regulators.
Wind turbines in Australia must comply with strict planning and operation guidelines in relation to their permissible noise levels. The noise regulations in Queensland are that:
The outdoor night-time noise level will not exceed 35dB(A) or the background noise by more than 5dB(A); and
The outdoor day-time noise level will not exceed 37dB(A) or the background noise by more than 5dB(A); and
No wind turbine can be built within 1.5 km of a house without the permission of the owner of the house.
As a reference point the Federal Government agency, Safework Australia, equates 30dB(A) as whispering level noise, 40 dB(A) as quiet radio music, and 60dB(A) as normal conversation.
The nearest house to the Banana Range Wind Farm turbines will be about 2.5 km away, which is 1 km further than required by the State Development Assessment Provisions). Due to the distance between the turbines and the houses, the wind farm will not cause noise levels to breach noise regulations at the nearest house at 2.5 km or any others that are further away.
How tall are the wind turbines?
The turbines are 130m tall.
How many jobs will the project create?
The project is anticipated to generate 100 - 150 jobs during the 2 year construction period and 10 - 15 full-time positions during the 25-year operational life.
Our goal is to achieve 60% local content; 60% of the civil construction work completed by local contractors.
The project will require a range of capabilities including:
Engineering
Trades, including electrical, mechanical, and construction
Transport
Building material providers, including concrete and steel fixing
Heavy vehicle operators
Accommodation
Administration
Specialist consultants, such as environmental
Those interested in employment should contact us through the web form.
Where is the transmission line being built, and what are the benefits?
The transmission line route is being evaluated now. Powerlink is currently in community consultation and will take this into account when assessing the best route. Following this, direct negotiations with impacted landholders will begin.
It is not possible to upgrade the existing lines to meet capacity requirements. New transmission lines will be built to ensure the energy produced can be used.
How much money will be spent in the local economy?
The total project cost is expected to be $500 million. It is estimated that $30 - $40 million will be spent in the local and regional community during the construction period through the employment of local contractors and local service providers.
How will the Community Fund operate?
$100,000 per year will be provided for projects or initiatives within the local region.
The Community Consultative Committee, composed of community members,project representatives and an independent chair will decide how the money can best benefit the community.
Example projects could include: community building improvements, tourist facilities, rural fire service upgrades, support for local school initiatives or telecommunication infrastructure.
Will the value of our property decrease?
The wind farm will be visible from some parts of some properties. The closest property is 2.5km from the wind farm site.
How will affected landholders be cared for after construction is complete?
EDF Renewables develops, owns and operates all projects, and will continue to be responsible for performance. We will maintain a continuous relationship with the community after construction is complete.
What will be the life cycle of the wind farm?
It is anticipated that the wind farm will operate for around 25 years. After this operating life EDF Renewables may replace some of the equipment and extend the project for a further period, or possibly erect new wind turbines on the project site. At the end of the project life EDF Renewables will be responsible for removing all infrastructure and rehabilitating the project site.
Transmission connections and civil works like roads and facilities will have a much longer life. After their operating life, valuable metals within the turbines and towers (like copper and steel) will likely be reused. Often, recycling value repays the cost of dismantling if it is required. Transmission lines and infrastructure make the Banana Range Wind Farm a good option for repowering and continued operation.
What is shadow flicker?
As the nearest residence to the wind farm is over 2,500 metres away, there will not be any shadow flicker impact at any properties in the region. Shadow flicker may occur when the sun passes behind the rotating blades of a wind turbine and casts a moving shadow over an area.
Is wind energy efficient?
Wind turbines are very efficient at converting wind energy to electrical energy. Wind turbine technology has improved significantly over the past 20 years and has allowed the technology to become one of the lowest cost forms of electricity. The wind data for the Banana Range project site shows that wind turbines would be producing electricity nearly 90% of the time, i.e. 10% of the time there would not be enough wind to turn the turbines but the rest of the time they would be producing electricity.
How much energy do wind turbines produce compared to the energy needed to make them?
It is a myth that building a wind farm takes more energy than it ever generates. International studies have shown that a wind turbine will typically generate all of the energy used in manufacturing the turbine and installing it at a wind farm site within 5 - 6 months.
This period of time is known as the 'energy pay-back period'. A wind turbine that operates for 25 years will therefore generate approximately 50 times the energy used in the manufacturing and installation.
How competitive is the cost of wind power?
The cost of wind power has fallen significantly over the past decade. Large-scale wind farms are now one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Australia.
Large electricity users are now signing direct contracts with Wind Farms to lower their electricity bills. For example, last year the Murra Warra Wind Farm in Victoria signed a contract with Telstra, ANZ, Coca-Cola Amatil, and the University of Melbourne for the entire wind farm output.
How are any impacts and benefits of the project assessed?
At a State level, the Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Planning (DSDMIP), requires detailed information on all aspects of the project to be provided in any submission for planning approval. The State Government then assesses the project information, using independent experts, against State Code 23 for Wind Farm development. If approval is granted for a project, then the State Government will attach approval conditions with which the project must comply with. A development application was lodged with DSDMIP in July 2019. DSDMIP has assessed this application and provided their decision notice in December 2019 for the Development Approval with conditions for the project.
At a Federal level, the Federal Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) requires information on the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. A referral application was lodged with DoEE in July 2019, the DoEE assessed this information and made a decision in December 2019 that the project is not a controlled action and can proceed.