Ben Bullen Wind Farm
Ben Bullen Wind Farm
Ben Bullen Wind Farm is an integrated wind, solar and storage renewable energy project proposed near Portland in the Central Ranges of New South Wales.
Consisting of 350-450 megawatts (MW) of wind and 50-70MW solar generation capacity, and 30-50MW battery energy storage (BESS) on-site, the Ben Bullen Wind Farm is anticipated to connect into the existing transmission network, supplying clean energy to the National Electricity Market to contribute to the NSW Government’s target to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
The Ben Bullen Wind Farm would generate enough clean electricity to power about 238,000 Australian homes per year and has been identified for its wind resource and proximity to major retiring coal fired power stations.
The project is being developed by Tetris Energy, an Australian renewable energy company developing a range of wind, solar and storage projects in Australia. With a focus on the long-term viability of regional communities, the development of Ben Bullen Wind Farm will generate significant investment and economic benefits in the broader Lithgow region and will be compatible with existing agricultural and farming activities.
Project Overview
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Tetris Energy is committed to ongoing and genuine engagement with the local community and project stakeholders to build strong relationships and establish a socially sustainable project.
To help promote a high standard of community engagement across the industry, the Clean Energy Council has developed a Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Projects with an emphasis on community engagement. Tetris Energy is committed to honouring this charter in our renewable energy projects.
We will continue to engage with neighbours and broaden the consultation effort to include the wider community and stakeholders throughout the planning process as more assessments and investigations are completed and detailed information becomes available.
This consultation will provide valuable local insights into identifying opportunities and constraints for the proposal. Please use the signup form below to register your interest.
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Under the EP&A Act, development may be declared State Significant Development (SSD). This declaration may be made by a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) or by the Minister for Planning (the Minister) and is generally based on the scale, nature, location, and strategic importance of the development to the State.
All SSD projects require development consent from either the Independent Planning Commission or the Minister before they may proceed. Prior to determination, they are subject to a comprehensive assessment with extensive community participation. The Department of Planning and Environment co-ordinates this assessment. All SSD projects are determined on their merits, having regard to their economic, environmental, and social impacts and the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
All current State Significant Applications can be found on the Department of Planning and Environment’s Major Projects Portal, which provides a platform to gain an insight into the status of the assessment process, access all relevant assessment materials for the Development Applications, and contact details for the Department’s assessment officer.
Once submitted, the assessment materials for the Ben Bullen Wind Farm, including the Scoping Report and the Project’s Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements, will be accessible on the Major Projects Portal, here.
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Tetris Energy will undertake comprehensive technical, environmental, and social studies which, together with further community consultation, will shape the development of Ben Bullen Wind Farm. This includes continuing our engagement with Lithgow region communities to understand ways that the area can benefit from the project, such as a key gap in infrastructure or suggestions for local initiatives, including possible development of a benefit sharing program to support the local community and provide a long-lasting legacy in the area.
Investment in Lithgow City Council region will assist:
energy industry transition – from thermal generation to renewable energy.
employment – both direct (technicians, electricians etc) and indirect (concrete, services etc).
energy reliability and security for the region.
broader community-led funding initiatives.
provide renewable energy supply for local battery energy storage projects.
utilise the regions existing transmission assets.
Register your interest as a local supplier on the form below.
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The Ben Bullen Wind Farm will have the potential to supply clean energy to around 328,000 NSW homes and avoid 725,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
The Australian energy landscape is transitioning to a greater mix of low-emission renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Factors driving this transition include:
• Demand for more reliable energy supply.
• Consumer demand for lower energy bills.
• State and federal government commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
• Scheduled closure of fossil-fuel generation sources such as coal.
The Australian Energy Market Operator has identified that storage capacity needs to triple within the National Energy Market to meet electricity demands, while the New South Wales Electricity Roadmap forecasts an additional 2.3 GW of energy storage is needed to maintain system security and reliability.
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Once completed, the Ben Bullen Wind Farm is expected to operate for 25-35 years. As a signatory to the Clean Energy Council’s Best Practice Charter, Tetris Energy is committed to working respectfully with wind farm communities, during wind farm development, construction, operation, and end of life decommissioning and takes community concerns regarding decommissioning seriously.
Decommissioning means that the wind turbines, site office and any other ancillary infrastructure is removed from the site, and roads and foundation pads are covered and revegetated, allowing land to be returned to its former use. Typically, landowner contracts and Development Applications contain definite clauses setting out the expectations around rehabilitating the site.
Read more on the Clean Energy Council’s Decommissioning guidelines here.
Location
Using its renewable energy technical expertise and project development experience, Tetris Energy has identified the Ben Bullen location based on its strong wind resource, access to existing high-voltage transmission lines, and proximity to major retiring coal-fired power stations.
Located ~12km north of Portland and ~18km from Wallerawang, the site is in the Lithgow City Council with the previously cleared land predominantly used for cattle and sheep grazing. Tetris Energy acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wiradjuri, Gundungurra, and Darug people.
The project is in a major current Energy Generation Zone, located near the former Wallerawang and current Mt Piper Power Stations and the coal mines that supply these. Developing the high-quality wind resource at the site would diversify the local economy and generate significant investment in the broader Lithgow area in a way that is compatible with existing agricultural activities.
Ben Bullen’s wind generation has what is regarded as an ‘attractive’ daily profile. This is important as the energy generated from the wind farm at either end of the day matches with peak energy demand times across the energy grid.
The Ben Bullen Wind Farm will be complimented by co-located solar generation and battery storage to maximise the energy generated and captured from the site. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) stores excess electricity from the solar panels when the wind is blowing and then dispatches to the electricity grid when demand it at its peak.
An on-site substation will be used to connect the project to the existing electricity transmission network.
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Jobs
Up to 150 jobs during construction.
Local procurement focus.
10-12 ongoing roles once operational.
Opportunity to upskill from coal-fired generation and extraction experience.
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Capacity
350 - 450 MW wind
50 - 70 MW solar
30 - 50 MW BESS
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Grid Connection
Ben Bullen is at the connection enquiry stage and has various existing connection options.
There are potential options to connect to either higher or lower voltage lines depending on the final size (capacity) of the project, including connection to existing Transgrid and / or Endeavour lines.
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Technology
Modern wind turbines have capacity of 6-7 megawatts (MW) each.
Single-axis tracking ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, similar to those used on Australian residential rooftops.
Battery design may consist of containerised battery compound or smaller battery packs.
Planning Process
Find out more and have your say.
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Request a one-on-one meeting or call.
Provide feedback via surveys.
Register your interest as a project supplier.
If you have questions, feedback or would like to register for future updates, please complete this online form.