Landholders
Landholders play a critical role in the development of a wind
farm.
The foundation of all Pacific Hydro's activities is a strong
working relationship with local landholders to secure suitable
sites for development.
When a site has passed our comprehensive initial 'checklist',
Pacific Hydro undertakes the additional steps to develop the
project. Measuring the wind resource, grid connection, planning,
flora and fauna studies, construction requirements and purchase
agreements with an energy retailer are the main steps. We also
consider any historical or cultural heritage issues, and any
resulting tourism opportunities.
To help you fully understand the role a landholder plays in the
development of a wind project, we have provided answers to some of
the most frequently asked questions.
FAQs
What do
you look for in a good wind farm site?
Pacific Hydro only develops wind farms which are appropriately
sited, well designed and locally supported.
A good site needs the following attributes:
Strong and consistent winds;
Proximity to the National Electricity Grid;
Compatible land use such as cropping or grazing;
Land area allowing the best possible spacing of windmills;
Accessibility for construction vehicles and machinery; and
Community and local council support.
As a landowner, hosting a wind project requires minimal time on
your part once land agreements have been negotiated. Pacific Hydro
manages the details, requirements and contracts for the entire
project, leaving you free to focus on your primary land uses.
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How
can I benefit from a wind farm on my property?
Wind energy provides a consistent, renewable and clean resource
that provides a second income for landholders, complements existing
land uses, and provides a steady, long-term source of revenue.
Wind does not suffer from the adverse effects of droughts,
commodity price fluctuations, pest-related crop damage or other
farming challenges.
Wind generators also operate all year round.
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How long does
the development process take?
A typical wind farm takes approximately 5 years to develop. This
long lead-time is important as Pacific Hydro does not cut corners
ensuring that everybody will benefit from a proposed site.
We spend an entire year monitoring wind flow on proposed sites,
using that time to also ensure that output from the wind farm will
be optimised and that the interests of stakeholders, including
landholders, neighbours and local communities, are considered in
the process.
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How
does a wind farm impact on the remainder of my land?
The footprint of a wind farm takes up between 1-2 per cent of a
typical site. Pacific Hydro has a wealth of experience and
knowledge, working with landholders to minimise impacts on the
existing land uses, such as cropping or grazing.
Over a typical 25 year period, the total time it takes to
construct and maintain a typical wind farm is 12-18 months, with
any inconvenience experienced during that time well and truly
outweighed by the long-term benefits.
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Are the windmills noisy?
A wind generator is made up of moving parts and therefore does
make some noise - such as the hum of the generator and the whoosh
of the blades passing the tower.
But, thanks to advances in technology, well designed,
appropriately sited windmills are quiet enough to cause minimal
disturbance to people living just a few hundred metres away. You
are able to carry out a normal conversation while standing
underneath a modern windmill.
The maximum noise level from a wind farm at any surrounding
dwelling in Victoria is 40 decibels (about the same noise level as
a library), or 5 decibels above a usual level of existing
background noise, whichever is louder.
People react differently to noise - the best way to learn more
about noise levels is to visit Pacific Hydro's Codrington Wind Farm
and listen for yourself. Click here to visit Codrington Wind Farm
Tours.
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What happens if I
sell my property?
When you sign a wind farm agreement with Pacific Hydro, the
agreement stays with the land, not the current owner. Therefore, if
you sell the property, the obligations in the agreement pass onto
the new owners.
Your only responsibility upon selling is to notify Pacific Hydro
of the sale so we can establish contact with the property's new
owners and make sure they are informed about the project.
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How do you
determine where the towers go?
The lay-out of the wind generators is determined by many
variables, including the site's wind regime, existing vegetation,
habitat for indigenous fauna, cultural heritage sites, noise limits
at nearby homes, visual impact, aviation requirements, distance to
the existing powerlines, elevation, slope/soil stability and
property boundaries.
The windmills also need to be approximately 5 rotor diameters
apart to reduce the effect each tower has on the wind flow to the
neighbouring towers. Our technicians consider various aspects of
the wind flow over the site, including wind shear, turbulence,
tunnel effect, hill effect, wind speed and direction as well as
minimum, maximum and average wind speeds.
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Do I have a say
on where the towers go?
Pacific Hydro consults with landowners about their preferred
location of the towers. However, we must consider all of the
variables listed above when designing the site, as well as
landholder requirements.
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What
makes Pacific Hydro different from other developers?
Unlike many other wind farm developers, Pacific Hydro is a
specialist renewable energy company focused solely on developing
wind and hydro projects.
Pacific Hydro sets the benchmark for responsible wind farm
development. We have gained the trust of farmers and communities
around Australia as a company that is honest, responsive, and
considerate of local needs.
Our company is committed to keeping communities informed at
every step of the development process. Our public information
sessions, presentations to community groups and local media
briefings helping Pacific Hydro develop both the Codrington and
Challicum Hills wind farms in western Victoria without a single
objection.
For more general information about wind energy view our FAQs
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