The Hawkesdale Wind Farm, a 97-megawatt renewable energy project backed by Amazon, has commenced commercial operations in South West Victoria.
Located 30 kilometres northwest of Warrnambool, the wind farm consists of 23 turbines and is expected to generate 337,000 megawatt-hours of carbon-free energy annually, sufficient to power approximately 67,000 Victorian homes.
This project, developed in collaboration with Global Power Generation (GPG), the international energy generation arm of Spain-based Naturgy Energy Group, marks Amazon’s first utility-scale renewable energy venture in Victoria.
Michael Cooley, Director of Public Policy at Amazon Australia, emphasised the company’s commitment to advancing the carbon-free energy transition, stating: “We’re focused on bringing new sources of solar and wind energy to the country, which will help support our operations, as well as the communities where our customers live and work.”
The Hawkesdale Wind Farm aligns with Victoria’s ambitious renewable energy targets, which aim for 40 per cent renewable energy by 2025, 65 per cent by 2030, and 95 per cent by 2035.
Sheena Watt MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action, praised the project, noting that it will “strengthen our grid with more reliable, renewable energy”.
The wind farm’s construction created 167 full-time equivalent jobs, with six permanent roles maintained now that it is operational.
A notable aspect of the project was the innovative use of helicopters for stringing transmission lines, demonstrating GPG and Amazon’s commitment to respecting native vegetation and cultural heritage sites.
Amazon has invested in over 600 solar and wind projects worldwide, including several in Australia.
The Hawkesdale Wind Farm is part of Amazon’s broader commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
With this project, Amazon continues to demonstrate its leadership in corporate renewable energy adoption and its dedication to supporting Australia’s transition to sustainable energy sources.
