Cellars Hill Wind Farm Proposal
Landowner-led renewable energy that will provide local energy subsidies
Photo: Cellars Hill
A landowner-led renewable energy project with the potential to create local jobs and provide a $1,000 energy subsidy
A vision for a more sustainable future
Local landowners, including multigenerational farming families, are working in partnership with Alternate Path to develop Cellars Hill Wind Farm in the Central Highlands of Tasmania.
Together, the partnership brings two decades of experience in renewable energy development, including the successful Cattle Hill Wind Farm, located on the eastern shore of Lake Echo.
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This includes a proposal for a $1,000 per annum energy subsidy per household/business within 12 kilometres of a turbine, paid for the life of the project.
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The proposal is for a grid connected wind farm with potential capacity of up to 350MW, featuring up to 56 turbines, associated infrastructure and works across privately and publicly owned agricultural land.
Annual energy subsidy
The project team is proposing a Cellars Hill Wind Farm Energy Subsidy, providing financial relief by covering electricity bills up to $1,000 per annum for local households and businesses within 12 kilometres of a turbine, for the life of the project.
As established local families, the landowners are committed to sensitively considering the environmental and cultural values of the area, ensuring the local community benefits from the project and their ongoing stewardship of the land.​
A landowner-led proposal that is sensitive to local concerns
As established local families, the landowners are committed to sensitively considering the environmental and cultural values of the area, and ensuring the community benefits from the project and their ongoing stewardship of the land.
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This includes a proposal for a $1,000 per annum energy subsidy per household/business within 12 kilometres of a turbine, paid for the life of the project.
Suitably located with minimal impacts to the landscape
The project is suitably located within the Central Highlands Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and benefits from being adjacent to existing 220 kV transmission line infrastructure. This means that there is no need to build new transmission lines, minimising impacts to the local landscape.
In addition, the wind farm is sited in an area that is remote and sparsely settled, and more than 10km from the nearest town of Bothwell, reducing impacts on the community.
Supports current forestry, agriculture and hunting practices
Cellars Hill Wind Farm is being designed and will be constructed to ensure established grazing, forestry and hunting practices can continue.
The wind turbines only occupy a small portion of the development site ground cover, meaning agricultural and forestry practices can continue around them.
Hunting can also continue at the site, subject to additional precautions.
Creating opportunities for local jobs and training in renewable energy
The project vision is to use renewable energy generated on-site to support sustainable businesses and industries in the local area, through a ‘Behind the Meter’ connection to generate real and lasting social and economic benefits for Bothwell, surrounding communities and the state of Tasmania.
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The project is expected to provide opportunities for local businesses to be involved during the construction phase and will promote the growth of new industries to support local economic development.
Cellars Hill Wind Farm makes National Renewable Energy Priority List
The inaugural Priority List identifies 56 priority projects nationally consisting of 24 transmission, and 32 generation and storage projects.
If approved through Commonwealth, state and territory regulatory planning and environment processes, these projects could deliver an additional 16 GW of generation and approximately 6 GW of storage capacity across the nation.
Proposal
Overview
The Cellars Hill Wind Farm is a grid connected wind farm with potential capacity of up to 350MW in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. It will potentially be accompanied by a battery energy storage system (BESS) and electricity infrastructure (such as a switchyard and substation) to facilitate connection into the existing 220kV transmission line that runs through the site.
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The project will connect directly to the existing 220 kV transmission line running through the site, avoiding the need to develop new transmission lines.
The wind farm will be constructed to enable the continued use of the land for agricultural and forestry practices.​
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The careful planning and construction of the wind farm will ensure that local biodiversity is preserved, demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship while driving forward Tasmania's clean energy future.
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​The Project will provide significant community benefits, including direct investment, construction and ongoing jobs, and other local procurement opportunities.
130,000
Equivalent Number of Homes
Powered
230
Anticipated Number of Construction Jobs Created
14
Anticipated Number of
Ongoing Jobs Created
190,000
Tonnes of CO2-e
Emission Saved Per Year
1,140,552
Electricity Production
Per Year (MWh)
1.98 million
Equivalent Number of
Trees Saved
Central Highlands
Proposed Site
The closest turbines within Cellars Hill Wind Farm will be located at least 10 km from Bothwell, 7 km from Osterley and 15 km from Ouse and more than 4km from Highlands Lakes Road.
Turbine area
Cellars Hill Wind Farm will have up to 56 turbines. At this stage a ‘Turbine Area’ has been determined as a small area within the site, which is well setback from Highlands Lakes Road and Bothwell.
This reduced an initial plan of approximately 86 turbines following biodiversity studies and early neighbour and community engagement.
Site area
The total site area of the wind farm is approximately 8,460 hectares.
Of that, approximately 165 hectares will comprise the wind turbines and other infrastructure.