Australias Largest Wind Farm Surpasses 1 GW of Renewable Power Generation
The worlds largest operational wind farm in Australia has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing a gigawatt (GW) of electricity generation capacity. The Golden Plains wind farm owned by TagEnergy and located near Rokewood in Victoria has reached a total capacity of 1.3 GW. This achievement was announced by the project developer Vestas the turbine supplier through a LinkedIn post.
Golden Plains is recognised as the first project in the country to generate over 1 GW of renewable energy and is also the largest onshore wind farm developed in the southern hemisphere. The wind farm comprises 215 EnVentus V162-6.2 MW turbines which deliver reliable renewable energy for Victorias power grid. This helps reduce electricity bills for consumers and supports Australias commitment to decarbonising its energy sector.
The wind farm's development involved years of collaboration between various teams. Its success highlights the importance of strategic planning financing and operational optimisation. The project's first phase with a capacity of 766 MW was officially commissioned late last year and has been supplying energy since early 2025. The second phase generating 577 MW commenced operations while undergoing validation and connection procedures.
With a total investment of approximately 4 billion dollars Golden Plains now stands as Australias largest wind farm. Its proximity competitors such as the MacIntyre project in Queensland with 923 MW are still undergoing validation processes limiting their current output. Future contenders include the Liverpool Range and Yanco Delta projects in New South Wales alongside evolving proposals like Fortescues Bonney Downs wind farm aiming to contribute towards net-zero targets.
Beyond just power generation TagEnergy is developing a 150 MW 600 MWh battery energy storage system at the Golden Plains site. Additionally a long-term virtual power purchase agreement has been established with Snowy Hydro ensuring a steady supply of clean energy. This comprehensive approach demonstrates Australias strategic progress in renewable infrastructure marking a significant step in its industrial decarbonisation journey.