Pacific Hydro to use less turbines for Australian wind farm

Pacific Hydro has reduced the number of turbines for the proposed Keyneton wind farm to be located in the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges in Australia.

The Australian renewable energy company held several community consultations in the area in June and September and has concluded that the number of turbines to be installed should be reduced to 42, comprising 22 in the north and 20 in the south.

The initial proposal in 2009 had 60 turbines and the layout presented at the public consultation sessions earlier this year had 57 turbines.

Pacific Hydro general manager Lane Crockett said: "We have applied community and other stakeholder feedback in making adjustments to the proposed layout as well as being informed by formal flora and fauna assessments, landscape visual assessments and cultural heritage surveys."

"This new layout with 42 turbines reflects our responsible approach to the environmental assessment and community consultation process and we now look forward to taking the revised project forward," added Crockett.

The initial proposal in 2009 had 60 turbines and the layout presented at the public consultation sessions earlier in 2011 had 57 turbines.

The earlier proposal planned to have an installed capacity of 130MW and which will be able to provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 51,000 homes a year.

The farm was expected to displace 359,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year.