Bango Wind Farm is now fully operational and generating clean, renewable energy for New South Wales, and helping to power 144,000 homes.
The farm represents the first renewable project to move into operations since Squadron Energy purchased CWP Renewables in December 2022.
The Bango Wind Farm is capable of generating enough electricity to power 144,000 New South Wales homes, consists of 46 turbines and will prevent 543,000t of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere annually.
It will also play a crucial role in making groceries greener, after Woolworths agreed to purchase electricity from Bango for around 30 per cent of New South Wales’s energy needs – the equivalent to 108 supermarkets.
The Bango Wind Farm marks the first renewable project to move into operations since Squadron Energy purchased CWP Renewables in December 2022 – Squadron Energy is a Tattarang group company.
Tattarang Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest, said the opening of Bango Wind Farm was not only an important milestone for Squadron Energy but a significant development in Australia’s transition to green energy.
“As an industry we need to deliver an average of 40 wind turbines a month to reach the Federal Government’s target of 82 per cent renewables by 2030. Today we’re delivering 46 turbines in the first wind farm to come online in New South Wales in more than a year,” Dr Forrest said.
“We cannot underestimate the challenge in front of us and the urgency at which we all need to act to meet this target. Climate change is no longer a prediction; we are living right now in the era of fossil fuel driven, global warming acceleration.
“Business, in full partnership with the government, must work to do everything we can to bring our emissions down as a nation. Squadron will play a leading role in this, providing one third of the energy required to reach 82 per cent renewables by 2030.”
Squadron Energy CEO, Jason Willoughby, said he was thrilled to mark the opening of Bango Wind Farm, which follows Crudine Ridge Wind Farm entering operations early 2022.
“This is another step forward for our company as we deliver on our 20GW development pipeline of wind, solar and battery projects across Australia.
“I’d like to extend my gratitude to all those who have contributed to this success, including our dedicated team and our valued partners, including our landowner hosts.
“We look forward to continuing our efforts to advance renewable energy and make a critical contribution to a sustainable environment that has stepped beyond pollution for current and future generations,” Mr Willoughby said.
Bango Wind Farm is located about 30km north of Yass in the South Western Slopes region of New South Wales, and will not only help meet carbon emissions reduction targets, but it has also brought benefits to the local community. During construction, the project supported more than 320 jobs and injected $14 million into the regional economy.
Snowy Hydro and Transurban have also signed power purchase agreements to buy electricity from Bango Wind Farm.
Along with the operating Sapphire Wind Farm, the opening of Bango Wind Farm means Squadron Energy is now supplying 80 per cent of the combined electricity needs of Sydney’s Eastern Distributor, Cross City Tunnel, Hills M2, Lane Cove Tunnel and WestConnex toll roads.
