The largest wind project in Essential Energy’s network is now delivering clean energy to the grid – following more than ten years of planning and construction works.
Operated by Iberdrola Australia, the newly completed Flyers Creek Wind Farm boasts 38 turbines and an installed capacity of 145MW – enough to power 80,000 homes – and is located 20km south of Orange in the Blayney and Cabonne Local Government Areas in the Central West region of New South Wales.
Essential Energy said that the Flyers Creek Wind Farm is not just a project; it is a symbol of progress and a brighter, more sustainable future.
As one of the most significant renewable energy projects in the Essential Energy network, the utility said it embodies its commitment to delivering clean, reliable power to regional, rural and remote communities while supporting Australia’s energy transition.
Iberdrola Flyers Creek Wind Farm Site Manager, Josh Fitzgerald, said he enjoyed the complexities of the project.
“Working with Essential Energy has been a great collaboration, from building and commissioning the switching station to relocating multiple assets. It’s been a long but fun project,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
According to Essential Energy’s Major Network Connections Manager, Darrin Edwards, one of the biggest advantages of Flyers Creek Wind Farm is its ability to strengthen the energy network.
“Unlike solar farms, wind farms generate power at different times, ensuring a more balanced and resilient renewable energy supply,” Mr Edwards said.
“The benefit of connecting wind farms in Essential Energy’s network is that we already have a considerable amount of solar… so we need more wind-based technology.”
Essential Energy said that bringing Flyers Creek online was a complex task, requiring extensive coordination to integrate it into the network; and while securing outages for such a significant connection was challenging, careful planning ensured a smooth transition.
“There was a lot of negotiations around when we could have outages in the network to be able to connect this piece of kit,” Mr Edwards said.
Like any major infrastructure project, Flyers Creek faced its share of challenges – from weather disruptions to unexpected technical hurdles. Yet, through perseverance and collaboration, Essential Energy said the team overcame these obstacles.
“At the end of the day, we got it connected, and that was extremely pleasing to see,” Mr Edwards said.
