Squadron Energy, a Tattarang Group company, has officially opened Bango Wind Farm, one of the largest wind farms in New South Wales, as the company’s 20 gigawatt (GW) pipeline of renewables gears up.

Bango Wind Farm’s 46 turbines are now fully operational and generating clean, renewable energy, marking the first renewable project to move into operations since Squadron Energy purchased CWP Renewables in December.

The wind farm will generate enough electricity to power 144,000 homes and prevent 543,000 tonnes 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 its NSW energy needs, the equivalent to 108 supermarkets.

Tattarang Chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO 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.

Forrest said: “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.

“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 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.”

Bango Wind Farm is 30 kilometres north of Yass in the South Western Slopes region of NSW, 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.