General Expression of Interest - Kondinin Wind Farm

Overview Kondinin Energy Pty Ltd has issued a general expression of interest relating to the Kondinin Wind Farm, which is being jointly developed by Foresight Group and Shell Energy. The initial stage of development is for 130 MW of wind, including 21 wind turbine generators, forming part of a broader development for which the joint venture holds approvals to develop up to 230 Mega Watts (MW) of wind, around 60 MW of solar power, and a battery energy storage system. About Foresight Group and Shell Energy have a successful track record partnering on the Neerabup Power Station, a 330MW gas-fired generator located in Perth. The electricity produced by the Kondinin project will flow directly into the existing Kondinin substation, located nearby, and then into the Western Power network. Construction of the wind and solar project is expected to help contribute to a thriving economy in the Kondinin region and take up to two years to fully complete. The construction workforce is expected to peak at 145 people. It is anticipated the majority of construction jobs will be filled by workers from the Kondinin shire and adjoining regions wherever possible, with the balance of the workforce, including specialist roles, likely to be recruited from elsewhere in WA and interstate. A worker accommodation strategy will help mitigate any impacts on existing local accommodation. Once the wind and solar farm is operational, it is expected a small number of permanent staff will be employed to carry out operations and maintenance activities. It is expected that construction will commence in 2027 and that the initial stage of the wind farm be ready for commercial operations in 2029. Objectives The Wind and Solar farm is predicted to generate on average around 500 GWh of electricity every year. This renewable energy avoids the production of around 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Wind and solar resource measurements indicate the wind is predominantly from the south-east and is strongest overnight, meaning the combination of wind and solar power is complementary.