BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS

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BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
BARWON SOUTH WEST
RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP
CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap           1

                                      _
                                      CONTENTS

                                       Minister's Foreword                                                                      2

                                       About this Roadmap                                                                       3

                                       Our Renewable Energy Landscape                                                           4

                                       Community Engagement                                                                     6

                                       Understanding our Communities and Stakeholders                                           8

                                          About the Great South Coast                                                           8

                                          About G21                                                                           12

                                       The Faces of our Community                                                             16

                                       Community Driven Renewable Energy                                                      18

                                       Uniquely Positioned for a Renewable Energy Future                                      20

                                       Renewable Energy Generation in Barwon South West                                       24

                                          Wind                                                                                25

                                          Solar                                                                               30

                                          Bioenergy                                                                           34

                                       Regional Collaboration for a Renewable Energy Future                                   36

                                       Continuing the Conversation                                                            40

                                     Acknowledgement of Barwon South West's Aboriginal communities
                                     The Renewable Energy Roadmap project team acknowledges Barwon South West’s
                                     Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays its respects to their elders past
                                     and present. The project team recognises the intrinsic connection of traditional owners
                                     to country and acknowledges their contribution to its care. We acknowledge Aboriginal
                                     people as Australia’s first peoples and as the traditional owners and custodians of the land
                                     and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal
                                     people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us. We embrace the spirit of
                                     reconciliation, working towards the equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice.

t Artwork by Year 3/4 Barwon South
  West student, Lachie Irvine        Published December 2019
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
2

    MINISTER'S FOREWORD

           On behalf of the Victorian Government, I am
           pleased to present the Victorian Regional
           Renewable Energy Roadmaps.

           As we transition to cleaner energy with new       These Roadmaps articulate our regional
           opportunities for jobs and greater security of    communities’ vision for a renewable energy
           supply, we are looking to empower                 future, identify opportunities to attract
           communities, accelerate renewable energy          investment and better understand their
           and build a more sustainable and                  community’s engagement and capacity to
           prosperous state.                                 transition to renewable energy.

           Victoria is leading the way to meet the           Each Roadmap has developed individual
           challenges of climate change by enshrining        regional renewable energy strategies to
           our Victorian Renewable Energy Targets            provide intelligence to business, industry
           (VRET) into law: 25 per cent by 2020, rising to   and communities seeking to establish or
           40 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.      expand new energy technology
                                                             development, manufacturing or renewable
           Achieving the 2030 target is expected to
                                                             energy generation in Victoria.
           boost the Victorian economy by $5.8 billion -
           driving metro, regional and rural industry        The scale of change will be significant, but
           and supply chain development. It will create      so will the opportunities.
           around 4,000 full time jobs a year and cut
                                                             Each community has a part to play in
           power costs.
                                                             embracing cleaner energy and the benefits
           It will also give the renewable energy sector     it brings for a brighter future.
           the confidence it needs to invest in
           renewable projects and help Victorians take
           control of their energy needs.

           Communities across Barwon South West,
           Gippsland, Grampians and Loddon Mallee            The Hon Lily D'Ambrosio MP
           have been involved in discussions to help         Minister for Energy, Environment
           define how Victoria transitions to a              and Climate Change
           renewable energy economy.                         Minister for Solar Homes
                                                             State Government of Victoria
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap     3

ABOUT THIS ROADMAP

       This Roadmap captures the Barwon South
       West community’s views following significant
       engagement and consultation between
       April and September 2019.
       It is part of a very important, ongoing      This Roadmap is about collaboration and
       conversation about the region’s transition   engagement, particularly understanding
       to a renewable energy future and reflects    how the various regions across Victoria
       the unique characteristics and the lived     can contribute to our state’s renewable
       experience of the people of Barwon South     energy targets while delivering benefits
       West .                                       for their own households, businesses and
                                                    communities.
       The Barwon South West community
       understands we must plan and act with        I'd like to thank Barwon Water for hosting
       purpose to achieve our renewable energy      this project. Their own renewable energy
       goals. There are some differences in         ambitions are an example of what is
       the experience and opinions of Barwon        possible with focus and collaboration.
       South West residents, when we look and
                                                    What resources are available and what
       listen deeper to the feedback from our
                                                    opportunities do they provide? Are
       communities in the west (known as the
                                                    communities and regions “renewable
       Great South Coast) and the east (known
                                                    energy ready”? And what can we learn from
       as G21). These differences are explored
                                                    their “lived experience” to date?
       in more detail later in this Roadmap,
       but essentially result from the “lived       These are just some of the questions being
       experience” of Great South Coast residents   asked as part of constructive, focussed
       of renewable energy generation projects,     conversations which continue across our
       mainly wind farms.                           state. Working with our communities we
                                                    will continue to listen and learn, refine
       At the time this Roadmap was produced,
                                                    our shared priorities and develop action
       three local councils in our region – Surf
                                                    plans to progress these priorities – working
       Coast Shire, City of Warrnambool and
                                                    together with a common purpose.
       Moyne Shire – had declared a climate
       emergency. This is significant, because
       these council declarations reflect how       Colleen White
       Barwon South West communities are
                                                    Regional Director
       feeling about the current and emerging
                                                    Barwon South West
       issues associated with our climate.
                                                    Department of Environment,
                                                    Land, Water and Planning
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
4

    OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPE

                                       SOUTHERN
                                    GRAMPIANS SHIRE

         GLENELG SHIRE
                                             Hamilton

                                                        MOYNE SHIRE
                                                                       Mortlake

                         Portland                                Warrnambool

                                                              CITY OF
                                                           WARRNAMBOOL
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap                                 5

                                Great South Coast                       Wind Farm

                                G21                                     Wind Farm (under construction)

                                                                        Large Scale Solar (>250 kW)

                                                                        Bioenergy Facility

                                                                        500 kV transmission line

                                                                        275 kV transmission line

                                                                        220 kV transmission line

                                             CITY OF
                                    GREATER GEELONG

                                                                                    Geelong

Terang
         Camperdown
                                               SURF COAST
                       Colac                     SHIRE                          Torquay

CORANGAMITE
   SHIRE                                                                                         BOROUGH OF
                                                                                                QUEENSCLIFFE
                      COLAC OTWAY
                         SHIRE                      Lorne

                               Apollo Bay

                                                            Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), 2019a, System Strength 2018-19.
                                                                                 Retrieved from www.aemo.com.au [Accessed 18 October 2019]
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
6

    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
    LISTENING, LEARNING AND SHARING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES

                                    Over almost six          People from all walks of life
                                                             contributed to the conversation,
      TALKING,                      months between           across community events such as
      LISTENING,                    April and September      markets and festivals, in schools,
                                                             and via an online survey.
      LEARNING AND                  2019, across many
      SHARING                       forums and using a       Barwon South West residents
                                                             spoke up about what was
      Collaboration, consultation   variety of stakeholder   happening with renewable energy
      and engagement with local     engagement tools, the    in their area, and what they thought
      communities was key to this                            about it. What did they see as the
      Roadmap’s development.
                                    Barwon South West        benefits of renewable energy to
      Across Barwon South West,     community shared         the community and region? What
      this process involved:
                                    their aspirations,       are the challenges and constraints?
                                                             What type of renewable energy
      • Engagement and
                                    desires and interest     systems are of most interest to our
        consultation activities
        over almost six months.     in renewable energy      communities, and what does the
                                                             best mix of energy generation look
      • More than 30 qualitative    generation and use,      like for our region? Discussions also
        interviews with various     and any constraints or   covered who should finance and
        stakeholders.
                                    concerns, based on       run renewable energy generation,
      • Multiple stakeholder                                 and residents let us know anything
        workshops and meetings      their experience and     else that was on their mind about
        across the east and west    knowledge.               renewable energy.
        of our region.
                                                             In all, more than 500 people
      • Engagement at local
                                                             across the nine Local Government
        events – farmers’
                                                             Authorities (LGAs) that make up
        markets, open house
                                                             Barwon South West were part of
        events, local hall
                                                             this engagement. They gave frank
        meetings and festivals
                                                             feedback about what people in
        attended by thousands
                                                             our region think about renewable
        of people.
                                                             energy, and several key themes
      • Structured “listening                                emerged.
        posts” to ensure
        conversations were
        consistent.
      • Detailed online survey.
      • Engagement with our
        region’s youth, via
        sessions held in schools
        and in after school youth
        groups.
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap       7

KEY THEMES

SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY                                SHARE THE BENEFITS
IS STRONG                                                   Sharing and retention of benefits derived from renewable
                                                            energy infrastructure development in our region is key with
There is strong support across our region for renewable
                                                            Barwon South West residents, and building and maintaining
energy generation and a progressive transition to
                                                            trust between them and developers is critical. People felt
renewables. People understand that this transition is
                                                            it was important that renewable energy projects in the
essential, given the rising costs of energy supply to
                                                            region created local jobs and an economic boost to local
households and businesses and the pressures of climate
                                                            businesses. Barwon South West is uniquely positioned
change.
                                                            within regional Victoria to capitalise on renewable energy
Very few people (less than one percent of all residents     technology growth, with 30 specialist firms identified in the
who contributed), did not support a shift to renewable      Victorian Government’s “Wind and Solar Facilities – Victoria
energy. Their key reasons for not supporting the            Business Supply Chain Directory” situated in Barwon South
transition were perceptions about reliability of supply,    West.
appropriate use of valuable agricultural land and a
perception that Australia’s contribution to climate
change was so small compared to other countries that it
didn’t matter how we produced our energy.

                                                            WIND AND SOLAR ARE THE
                                                            PREFERRED TECHNOLOGIES
                                                            Wind and solar renewable energy generation are seen by
TAKE A STRATEGIC APPROACH AND                               communities across our region as the most appropriate,
                                                            given the climatic conditions and advantages, and offering
LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY                                     the most potential, now and into the future. Wind and
An important theme which emerged was community              solar are also the types of energy generation that Barwon
concern that renewable energy generation projects           South West residents know most about.
were not being planned in a systematic way across
Victoria, leading to rushed and ad hoc projects. People
were concerned that the rollout of renewable energy
was being driven by the priorities of large commercial
developers who did not listen to community concerns or
act in the community’s interest. One of the community’s
main concerns was productive agricultural land being        CUT DOWN THE COMPLEXITIES AND
used for renewable energy projects.                         COSTS, AND MAKE IT EASIER
The most consistent concern raised by stakeholders was      Barwon South West residents are interested in a renewable
poor community consultation about proposed renewable        energy future for the region and state, but said they see
energy projects. People felt they weren’t involved in the   the current rules and regulations as highly complex and
planning of renewable projects in their area and that       preventing community involvement and innovation in the
developers sometimes overstated the benefits.               renewable energy space. For example, residents say it is
                                                            confusing to know how to go about getting rooftop solar
                                                            and that battery storage or small-scale renewable energy
                                                            projects are too expensive and this prevents some, like
                                                            dairy farmers, from installing solar systems as they use
                                                            most of their energy when the sun isn’t shining.
BARWON SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ROADMAP - CAPTURING OUR COMMUNITY'S VIEWS
8

    UNDERSTANDING OUR
    COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS

    Barwon South West covers an area of more than 2.9 million hectares,
    incorporating several major regional centres including Geelong, Colac,
    Warrnambool and Hamilton.

    ABOUT THE GREAT SOUTH COAST

            The Great South Coast’s
            vision is to transition to
            100 percent renewable                                SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS
            energy in a strategic                                       SHIRE
            and well planned way
            that equitably shares
            the benefits amongst                                              Hamilton

            the community.                           GLENELG
                                                      SHIRE
                                                                                                               CORANGAMITE
                                                                                             Mortlake
    The Great South Coast region                                                                                  SHIRE
    covers 23,000 square kilometres of                                          MOYNE SHIRE
                                                                                                     Camperdown
    predominantly rural and coastal areas
                                                                 Portland
    in Victoria. The region has significant                                                  Warrnambool
    infrastructure attributes including
    major passenger and freight road and
                                                                                          CITY OF
    rail assets and thoroughfare and the
                                                                                       WARRNAMBOOL
    Port of Portland.

    It also abounds with natural
    resources (particularly wind and
    sun) and environmental assets and
    attractions including marine and
                                                                                         already, residents can provide a
    coastal parks such as the Twelve          The Great South Coast contains
                                                                                         unique understanding of the benefits
    Apostles Marine National Park and         some of the best renewable
                                                                                         and challenges of renewable energy
    the Budj Bim, Great Otway and             energy resources in Barwon South
                                                                                         generation, particularly large-scale
    Grampians National Parks. With a          West, indeed in Victoria. It also
                                                                                         wind development.
    population of 101,7021 the Great          has some of the best transmission
    South Coast includes these local          infrastructure, offering a competitive     Two councils within the Great
    government areas (LGAs): Glenelg          advantage for the region. The area         South Coast, Moyne Shire
    Shire, Southern Grampians Shire,          has great potential to benefit from        and City of Warrnambool,
    Moyne Shire, City of Warrnambool          Victoria’s renewable energy transition     have declared climate change
    and Corangamite Shire.                    and, because of heavy investment in        emergencies, reflecting the views
                                              renewable energy in the region             and priorities of local constituents.

    1
        ABS2016a
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap   9

RENEWABLE ENERGY                            CHALLENGES AND                            p Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

INITIATIVES                                 CONSTRAINTS
Renewable energy generation,                Great South Coast community               • Local councils need clarity on how
particularly wind, has long been a          members noted the following                 to manage requirements under
feature of the Great South Coast            potential challenges and constraints        various relevant State Acts – for
region. Further development is              to further renewable energy                 example those that cover noise
underway in all of the five LGAs            generation development and take-up          and nuisance (Public Health and
represented in the western end of           within the area.                            Wellbeing Act 2008) and wind
Barwon South West. Initiatives at           • The number of existing and                farm approval planning conditions
either aspirational or feasibility stages     committed large-scale wind                (Planning and Environment Act
include but are not limited to:               farms in some areas means some            1987).
• Port Fairy Smart Energy Precinct.           residents are seeing landscape-         • Community engagement
• Negotiations with South Australia           scale change all around them and          requirements should be clear,
  for a cross-border biohub.                  feel they have had little say.            consistent and part of permit
• Hydrogen bus network.                     • A lack of a strategic, co-ordinated         requirements.
• Hamilton industrial land bioenergy.         approach to how and where wind
• Biochar energy (including for               farms will be located and no
  carbon sequestration).                      shared understanding of what is         OPPORTUNITIES
• Green hydrogen export from                  reasonable.
                                                                                      Great South Coast community
  Portland.                                 • Roads and other local town
                                                                                      members also saw a number of
• Hydrogen production.                        infrastructure (like bridges) are not
                                                                                      opportunities for renewable energy
• Hydrogen refueling station.                 fit for large-scale infrastructure
                                                                                      development in their part of Barwon
                                              development and the impact of
• Power upgrades for dairies.                                                         South West. They suggested the
                                              heavy vehicles and the cost of
• Zero carbon plans.                                                                  following:
                                              repairs is often borne by local
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)              governments.                            • Think as a region and take a co-
  to obtain 45 percent renewable                                                        ordinated approach.
                                            • Local councils need support as
  energy.                                                                             • Replace natural gas with
                                              they are left with the responsibility
• Electric vehicle charging                                                             renewable energy alternatives.
                                              of making sure wind farms comply
  infrastructure – strategy
                                              with their permits creating a           • Ensure profits and benefits stay
  opportunities “charging the
                                              significant burden on council             within the region.
  region”.
                                              resources. They want to work            • Improve waste management.
• Port of Portland operating and              with those responsible for setting
  supporting the development                                                          • Look to improve regional jobs
                                              permit conditions.
  of large-scale renewable                                                              and growth, including education
                                            • Large-scale wind project                  and training facilities focussed
  infrastructure in the region.
                                              construction has decreased                on retaining young people in the
• Renewable energy power take-
                                              the availability of short-term            region.
  up incentives and programs for
                                              accommodation and affordable
  industry and business.
                                              housing for low socio-economic
                                              status groups.
10

     GLENELG                                     SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS
     SHIRE                                       SHIRE
               Population                                 Population
               19,7582                                    16,1232

               Area                                       Area
               621,857 ha                                 665,402 ha

               Average annual solar                       Average annual solar
               exposure                                   exposure
               15.5 MJ/sqm                                15.8 MJ/sqm

               Average wind speed                         Average wind speed
               6.9 – 8.9 m/s                              7.5 – 8.5 m/s

        Renewable energy generation                 Renewable energy generation
        Existing rooftop solar, solar               Existing rooftop solar, solar and
        and wind farms have up to                   wind farms have up to 77.8 MW
        154.9 MW of renewable energy                of renewable energy capacity3.
        capacity3. Solar and wind farms             Solar and wind farms under
        under construction or approved,             construction or approved,
        combined with a full rollout of             combined with a full rollout of
        rooftop solar across the region,            rooftop solar across the region,
        would add a further 227.5 MW                would add a further 137.1 MW
        of capacity4.                               of capacity4.

     In 2019 Glenelg Shire Council               Southern Grampians Shire Council
     undertook and published a Renewable         is focussed on a renewable energy
     Energy Study to investigate the             future, with recent initiatives including
     potential to develop the shire into         participation in a Power Purchase
     a renewable energy hub for the              Agreement initiated and facilitated by
     state. The study looked at four key         the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances.
     renewable energy types – solar, wind,
     biomass and hydrogen – on the basis
     they were most easily implementable,
     financially viable, with long-term future
     application and market potential
     in addition to delivering strong job
     growth. Glenelg Shire is committed
     to demonstrating leadership in the                     Victorian average
     renewable energy sector.                               annual solar exposure
                                                            14 – 19 MJ/sqm

                                                            Victorian average
     t The Twelve Apostles
                                                            wind speed
                                                            3.5 – 10 m/s
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap                                     11

MOYNE                                   CITY OF                                     CORANGAMITE
SHIRE                                   WARRNAMBOOL                                 SHIRE
         Population                              Population                                             Population
         16,7372                                 34,2422                                                16,2432

         Area                                    Area                                                   Area
         548,169 ha                              12,095 ha                                              440,749 ha

         Average annual solar                    Average annual solar                                   Average annual solar
         exposure                                exposure                                               exposure
         15.3 MJ/sqm                             15.3 MJ/sqm                                            15.3 MJ/sqm

         Average wind speed                      Average wind speed                                     Average wind speed
         7.2 – 8.7 m/s                           7.7 – 8.5 m/s                                          7.5 – 8.5 m/s

  Renewable energy generation             Renewable energy generation                       Renewable energy generation
  Existing rooftop solar, solar           Existing rooftop solar, solar and                 Existing rooftop solar, solar and
  and wind farms have up to               wind farms have up to 7.1 MW                      wind farms have up to 13.8 MW
  536.7 MW of renewable energy            of renewable energy capacity3.                    of renewable energy capacity3.
  capacity3. Solar and wind               Solar and wind farms under                        Solar and wind farms under
  farms under construction or             construction or approved,                         construction or approved,
  approved, combined with a full          combined with a full rollout of                   combined with a full rollout of
  rollout of rooftop solar across         rooftop solar across the region,                  rooftop solar across the region,
  the region, would add a further         would add a further 237.8 MW                      would add a further 172.2 MW
  1,065.6 MW of capacity4.                of capacity4.                                     of capacity4.

In October 2019 Moyne Shire             The City of Warrnambool Council is          Corangamite Shire Council has
Council joined a growing list of        one of three in our region that has         undertaken energy efficiency audits
Australian councils declaring a         declared a climate emergency. It has        resulting in energy saving upgrades
climate emergency and calling for       also committed to being a carbon            to council buildings and generated
urgent action to address climate        neutral organisation by 2040 and            156 MWh as a result of solar PV on
change. This declaration followed       among other things is looking at            kindergartens.
a presentation to councillors from      options for a hydrogen powered bus
their Youth Council, expressing their   network.
extreme concern about the impacts
of climate change on their future.

Moyne’s 2019-2029 Economic
                                                                                    2
                                                                                        ABS2016a
Development Strategy lists renewable                                                3
                                                                                        Capacity figures for both large-scale and rooftop solar include
energy as a key point under its                                                         an 80% efficiency factor for conversion from Direct Current
                                                                                        to Alternating Current. Sources: Australian PV Institute, 2019,
Economic Direction 3 Major Local                                                        Mapping Australian Photovoltaic Installations (PV Postcode Data
Industries. Moyne leads the way as                                                      & Large-Scale PV Systems). Retrieved from pv-map.apvi.org.au
                                                                                        [Accessed 18 October 2019] and Department of Environment,
Victoria’s wind energy hub and more                                                     Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), 2019, Wind farm and Solar Farm
                                                                                        general locations (shapefiles).
information on the shire’s commitment
                                                                                    4
                                                                                        Potential capacity is based on postcode figures developed by
to renewable energy can be found at                                                     the Australian PV Institute (accessed Oct 2019, pvmap.apvi.org.
www.moyne.vic.gov.au                                                                    au) and recalculated to apply best fit to the region. It is not an
                                                                                        estimate of currently approved projects/installations.
12

     ABOUT G21

        G21’s overarching vision
        for the region is to work
        together, be strategic,                                             GOLDEN PLAINS
                                                                                SHIRE                     CITY OF
        make connections and
                                                                                                          GREATER
        focus on economic,                                                                                GEELONG
        social and environmental
        solutions to create a                                                                                  Geelong
        positive future for young
        people, and progressively
                                                                                         SURF COAST
        shift to a sustainable world
                                                                                           SHIRE
        for generations to come.                                        Colac                      Torquay

                                                                                                                         BOROUGH OF
                                                            COLAC OTWAY                                                 QUEENSCLIFFE
     The G21 region covers 594,000 square
                                                               SHIRE
     kilometres and include these LGAs:                                          Lorne
     Colac Otway Shire, Surf Coast Shire,
     City of Greater Geelong, Borough
     of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains
     Shire. Golden Plains Shire, while
                                                           Apollo Bay
     not technically a part of the Barwon
     South West region, is part of the G21
     Geelong Regional Alliance, and the
     views of some of its southern residents
     are covered in this Roadmap.               “sea changers”, many of whom                  and is fast-tracking its switch to
                                                commute to Melbourne for work.                renewable electricity. After only
     Geelong is the largest city in
                                                                                              three years of action Barwon Water
     the region and the second largest city     The Great Ocean Road, part of which is
                                                                                              is now 60 percent renewable (based
     in Victoria. The Surf Coast Shire is one   in G21, is an integral part of the fabric
                                                                                              on implemented and committed
     of three in Barwon South West which        of Barwon South West.
                                                                                              projects) with a 3MW solar farm at
     has declared a climate emergency,
                                                The road and its surrounding                  Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant
     following advocacy and activism on
                                                environment are also at the forefront         and an innovative bioenergy project
     this issue from local residents.
                                                of the impact of a changing climate           underway in Colac that is planned to
     Community engagement                       with increased erosion events, storms         save 8,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions
     indicates G21 residents are very           surges and rising sea levels.                 per year.
     supportive of a renewable energy
                                                The G21's water corporation,
     future for the region. The G21
                                                Barwon Water, has committed to a
     area covers retirees and lifestyle
                                                zero net emissions future by 2030            q Rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges.
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap       13

RENEWABLE ENERGY                         CHALLENGES AND                             • Work with regional TAFEs and
                                                                                      universities to develop appropriate
INITIATIVES                              CONSTRAINTS                                  skill-based programs. Conduct
G21 communities have strong              The following challenges and                 audits to understand what skills
aspirations to move to a renewable       constraints came up as part of               are needed, what we have, and
energy future. This end of               consultation with G21 communities:           address the gaps.
Barwon South West also has a             • Solutions to renewable energy            • Look to undertake study tours
well-coordinated approach for              challenges must be equitable to            and exchanges – within Victoria,
collaboration to achieve these             ensure a just and fair transition          Australia and internationally – to
aspirations through the G21 alliance.      for all.                                   share renewable energy initiatives
Initiatives at either aspirational or    • Lack of clear, consistent policy.          and experiences.
feasibility stages include:                                                         • Communicate more clearly
                                         • Impacts of any development on
• Deakin University micro-grid.            the region’s natural environment.          and effectively on the benefits,
• Surf Coast Shire’s renewable           • Lack of appropriately skilled, local       opportunities and limitations of
  energy target of 25 percent by           workforce.                                 renewable energy technology.
  2020.                                  • Slow uptake of technology.               • Develop a collective, co-ordinated
• Colac Otway Shire’s goal of being      • Lack of modelling data and                 regional vision for G21 and the
  carbon neutral by 2020. 99 kW            shared learnings, local and                broader Barwon South West.
  solar on Bluewater. 99 kW solar          international.                           • Look for renewable energy
  on council offices.                    • Lack of regional vision.                   collaboration opportunities across
• Proposed 6MW solar farm –              • Resource constraints.                      G21 through local governments
  feasibility study pending.                                                          and sustainability groups.
                                         • Waste management.
• Water Corporations and Local           • Lack of focus on culture, sharing        • Work to prioritise renewable
  Government Power Purchase                experiences, building the case             energy projects, understand “hot
  Agreements (PPA).                        for change, normalising the                spots” and constraints so decision
• BRACE community Power                    renewable energy experience.               making is informed and balanced.
  Hub (eight community-based                                                        • Focus on waste management
  renewable energy groups).                                                           and its impact on the local area.
• Barwon Water 100 percent
  renewable energy by 2025 and
                                         OPPORTUNITIES                                Develop a product stewardship
                                                                                      program for renewable energy
  zero emissions by 2030.                G21 communities are solution-                waste, such as solar PV panels
• Local Government procurement           focused and offered the following            and batteries.
  policies which encourage               ideas to government, regulators and        • Tell our stories, look to share,
  renewable technologies.                legislators as a way forward:                mentor and lead with renewables.
• Green Tech Advisory Committee          • Support energy decentralisation          • Being part of a network of
  to support small-to-medium               initiatives, such as micro-grids,          Community Power Hubs across
  enterprises to adopt energy              virtual power plants, and other            Victoria.
  efficiency measures.                     community energy projects.
• Geelong Technical School               • Develop and promote policy
  school-based projects.                   that fosters regional innovation
• Micro-grid investigations at Basil’s     and local strategies that clearly
  Farm.                                    contribute to Victoria’s overall
• Corporate fleet electric vehicles.       targets.
• Supply chain development with          • Understand the impacts of
  Vestas in Geelong providing local        renewable energy generation on
  business opportunities.                  local assets in G21, marine and
• Inverleigh wind farm proposal.           terrestrial.
• Community groups working on
  specific projects, for example the
  Community Owned Renewable
   Energy (CORE) Geelong.
14

     COLAC OTWAY
     SHIRE
                Population
                21,3625

                Area
                343,747 ha

                Average annual solar
                exposure
                14.8 MJ/sqm

                Average wind speed
                6.5 – 9.2 m/s

        Renewable energy generation
        Existing rooftop solar, solar
        and wind farms have up to
        140.0 MW of renewable energy
        capacity6. Solar and wind farms
        under construction or approved,
        combined with a full rollout of
        rooftop solar across the region,
        would add a further 205.9 MW
        of capacity7.

     Colac Otway Shire Council has
     committed to be a carbon neutral
     organisation by 2020, undertaken
     energy audits at nine key council
     facilities and installed a 99 kW PV
     system on its sport and recreation
     centre, Bluewater. Further energy
     efficiency upgrades are planned
     and a range of additional measures
     are being considered, including
     purchasing green power and / or
     carbon offsets.

     t Aerial view of the City of Greater Geelong
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap                                          15

SURF COAST                              CITY OF                                  BOROUGH OF
SHIRE                                   GREATER GEELONG                          QUEENSCLIFFE
         Population                              Population                                         Population
         30,4655                                 239,5295                                           2,9295

         Area                                    Area                                               Area
         155,294 ha                              124,799 ha                                         862 ha

         Average annual solar                    Average annual solar                               Average annual solar
         exposure                                exposure                                           exposure
         15.2 MJ/sqm                             15.3 MJ/sqm                                        15.5 MJ/sqm

         Average wind speed                      Average wind speed                                 Average wind speed
         7.0 – 9.4 m/s                           7.2 – 8.1 m/s                                      7.6 – 8.1 m/s

   Renewable energy generation            Renewable energy generation                   Renewable energy generation
   Existing rooftop solar, solar          Existing rooftop solar, solar and             Existing rooftop solar, solar and
   and wind farms have up to              wind farms and bioenergy facilities           wind farms have up to 1.4 MW
   11.8 MW of renewable energy            have up to 64.1 MW of renewable               of renewable energy capacity6.
   capacity6. Solar and wind farms        energy capacity6. Solar and wind              Solar and wind farms which are
   under construction or approved,        farms under construction or                   under construction or approved,
   combined with a full rollout of        approved, combined with a full                combined with a full rollout of
   rooftop solar across the region,       rollout of rooftop solar across               rooftop solar across the region,
   would add a further 189.1 MW           the region, would add a further               would add a further 30 MW of
   of capacity7.                          1,409.9 MW of capacity7.                      capacity7.

Surf Coast Shire has adopted a target   City of Greater Geelong Council          Borough of Queenscliffe Council has
of 25 percent renewable energy          has installed two rooftop PV             undertaken two rounds of energy
by 2020, has initiated the website      systems and planned a further 21         bulk buy programs for residents
Powered by Positive to help people      systems to be installed by the end       (noting that 54 percent of houses
access the best information on          of 2019. It continues to embed One       are not permanently occupied). It is
renewable energy and established        Planet Living principles across the      now looking to partner with Deakin
its Renewable Energy Taskforce to       organisation and is one of the 48        University, electricity distributor
support the community to transition     local governments planning to join       Powercor and the local community
to renewable energy. The Shire is one   the PPA initiated and facilitated by     to achieve its aspiration of being
of three in Barwon South West which     the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances.      100 percent renewable.
has declared a climate emergency,
                                        Geelong is a designated UNESCO
following advocacy and activism on
                                        City of Design and its Cleantech         5
                                                                                     ABS2016a
this issue from local residents.
                                        Innovations Geelong is a business and    6
                                                                                     Capacity figures for both large-scale and rooftop solar include an
                                        industry support program with a vision       80% efficiency factor for conversion from Direct Current to Alternating
                                                                                     Current. Sources: Australian PV Institute, 2019, Mapping Australian
                                        to establish Geelong as a Centre of          Photovoltaic Installations (PV Postcode Data & Large-Scale PV Systems).
                                                                                     Retrieved from pv-map.apvi.org.au [Accessed 18 October 2019] and
                                        Excellence for cleantech in Australia.       Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), 2019,
                                                                                     Wind farm and Solar Farm general locations (shapefiles).
                                                                                 7
                                                                                     Potential capacity is based on postcode figures developed by the
                                                                                     Australian PV Institute (accessed Oct 2019, pvmap.apvi.org.au) and
                                                                                     recalculated to apply best fit to the region. It is not an estimate of
                                                                                     currently approved projects/installations.
16

                                               THE FACES OF OUR
                                               COMMUNITY
                                               A wide range of community views were shared
                                               during this consulation and engagement process.
                                               The particular perspectives of four key community
                                               segments are captured here.

                                               LIVING OFF THE LAND – FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVE
                                               Farmers interviewed were                 government support to help with the
                                               supportive of transitioning to           technology transition, noting that
                                               renewable energy, but saw                the biggest constraint to investing
                                               some practical difficulties in           in renewable energy generation is
                                               achieving it. They recognised the        cost. Supply reliability was a concern,
                                               benefits to the environment, and         given that farmers’ livelihoods
                                               expected a greater proportion of         depended on it. Some farmers were
                                               renewable energy supply to reduce        considering going back to using
                                               energy costs. Many expressed             diesel because of the current cost
                                               an “ownership” sentiment,                of power. Farmers noted there are
                                               acknowledging it was up to               government subsidies for the coal
                                               everyone to do their bit to help         industry but no specific support for
                                               deliver a cleaner energy future.         farmers to transition to a renewable
                                                                                        energy future.
                                               Some challenges raised included
                                               land use conflicts, a lack of coherent

     YOUNG PEOPLE SAY WE MUST ADDRESS
     CLIMATE CHANGE
     Over 150 locals aged between 11 and       around and hope others will fight
     18 had their say and indicated they are   for a better future for ourselves and
     concerned about climate change and        others. We must be proactive, educate
     its impact on their future. They have a   ourselves and take action” she says.
     good understanding of how energy is
                                               The biggest priority for youth was
     currently produced, and they want that
                                               reducing pollution. They felt it was
     to change, to have less impact on the
                                               also important that energy supply is
     environment. They identified the main
                                               reliable and the community has more
     constraints to achieving this change as
                                               say in how energy is supplied. They
     cost and the complexity of needing to
                                               listed solar and wind energy as they
     change the whole energy system.
                                               two most popular forms of renewable
     Alex Marshall from Surf Coast Shire       energy for the future and were
     is passionate about working for a         enthusiastic about finding new ways to
     sustainable future. “We cannot sit        produce and store energy.
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap       17

                                       MOBILISING GLOBAL CONCERNS
                                       INTO LOCAL ACTION
                                       Judith Brooks is a member of the            grid in Victoria that will not meet our
                                       Barwon Heads Association and                future needs. We must find ways to
                                       a strong believer in the power of           overcome current technical limitations
                                       thinking globally and acting locally.       and we should be focussing on battery
                                                                                   storage and localised distribution of
                                       Judith sees a lot happening across
                                                                                   rooftop solar generation,” says Judith.
                                       Barwon South West, and she believes
                                       there is opportunity for better, regional   Communities sharing information
                                       co-ordination. “There are a lot more        and knowledge will be key and
                                       people worried about climate change,        community groups like the Barwon
                                       and discussing it, than the authorities     Heads Association are well placed to
                                       realise. The support for renewable          lead and influence the conversation.
                                       energy is based on its promise to give      Judith says, “I see multiple benefits
                                       households a cleaner and cheaper            for our community. The potential
                                       energy source which will stop the           for renewables to invigorate small
                                       rise in temperatures associated with        businesses by reducing the cost of
                                       global warming. There is real support       power bills is significant. Renewable
                                       for renewables but the community is         energy generation development
                                       beginning to understand that their          is essential and it needs to be
                                       effectiveness is limited by a power         appropriately resourced.”

TRADITIONAL OWNER PERSPECTIVES ON
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Traditional owners have a continuing   Legislative and policy drivers              Melinda Kennedy, Manager Land
connection to country and waters       upholding the connection to                 Sea and Waters for Wathaurung
that are being identified and          country and waters are bound in the         Aboriginal Corporation, says
developed for renewable energy.        Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, the           Wadawurrung Traditional Owners
Damein Bell, CEO Gunditj Mirring       Traditional Owners Settlement Act           are intrinsically linked to land, sea,
Traditional Owners Aboriginal          2010, the Native Title Act 1993 and         sky, all waters and all living beings,
Corporation, says, “Traditional        through the Environment Protection          and therefore hold high respect and
owners and their cultural heritage     and Biodiversity Conservation               responsibility to country. “Our country
are bound to the land in both          Act 1999 with national and world            is being damaged long-term with
physical and other intangible ways.    heritage listings. Damein says,             over development. Cultural heritage
There needs to be an opportunity       “Traditional owners understand              lies all across our land and waterways,
and process for cultural heritage      the need to transition to renewable         something which is not always
protection and management              energy generation sources. But the          recognised. We wish for engagement
to be considered as part of the        impact of the industrialisation of the      in all aspects of the process of
development of renewable energy        renewable energy sector must be             planning, and any ongoing works with
and other industrial installations.    balanced with the maintenance and           renewable development. Traditional
Government planners and industry       growth of healthy country for the           owners must be present during
developers must have appropriate       community and the environment,              these processes. Current planning
cultural awareness, including          including its ecologies of plants,          processes do not include our stories
training, from the outset of their     animals and fish. Traditional owners        and pathways and water and sky and
feasibility investigations, so that    require information and resources           our creatures and we wish to protect
recognition of country is part of      to best understand and contribute           them and move towards better
all stages of the development          to the renewable energy industry            education in understanding this, to
process.”                              across Barwon South West.”                  strengthen partnerships and work
                                                                                   together for a healthy future.”
18

     COMMUNITY DRIVEN
     RENEWABLE ENERGY

                                             Barwon Region Alliance for              energy education caravan is active
        Local community                      Community Energy (BRACE) is             in Warrnambool and Port Fairy, and
        energy groups share                  a network of community energy           is now working with the regional
        a vision for the future              groups whose purpose is to facilitate   community there. Future ambitions
        in which everyone has                cooperation and collaboration           include supporting a campaign to
        access to affordable,                among its members to support            establish a network of Community
        reliable and 100                     a wide range of local community         Power Hubs across Victoria, energy
        percent renewable                    energy initiatives. Current members     efficiency audit and upgrade services
        energy.                              include: 100% Clean Bellarine,          for low income households, solar
                                             Anglesea Community Energy,              gardens for renters, a peer-to-peer
                                             Barwon Sustainable Energy Alliance,     energy trading platform, and micro-
     Community energy projects can help      Birregurra Community Group, Colac       grids for remote communities with
     people participate in the shift to      Otway Sustainability Group, Geelong     unreliable supply.
     renewable energy both at home and       Sustainability, Southern Otways
                                                                                     BRACE has identified a number
     in their community, bringing a range    Sustainable and Surf Coast Energy
                                                                                     of challenges and constraints to
     of benefits for everyone. Community     Group.
                                                                                     achieving this future, including the
     energy projects include bulk-buy
                                             BRACE members are passionate            need to raise public understanding
     schemes which can help households
                                             about driving the transition to a       and acceptance of renewable
     buy quality systems from trusted
                                             renewable energy future and has         energy technologies and
     installers at lower prices. Community
                                             delivered a number of initiatives       developments, improving rooftop
     donation and investment projects
                                             already. These include solar PV and     solar PV installation standards, and
     can help local schools, organisations
                                             battery bulk-buy schemes and the        ensuring that the energy transition
     and businesses install rooftop solar
                                             installation of rooftop solar power     is just and fair.
     systems. Larger community owned
                                             systems on school and community
     renewable energy projects can help
                                             buildings. South West Community
     towns and regions produce more of
                                             Energy Incorporated’s renewable
     the energy they consume.
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap       19

      _
      CASE STUDY

      ANDY’S
      SUSTAINABLE
      ENERGY FOCUS IS
      BLOOMING
      When Andy Doeven was retrenched
      from his corporate job, he and his
      wife Debbie decided to buy a 20 acre
      block of blackberry infested land with
      a view to developing an energy self-
      sufficient flower growing operation.

      With no background in electricity
      generation, farming (or flowers!),
      Andy set to work. Self-taught, and
      with plenty of initiative and ingenuity,
      Andy and Debbie’s property now runs
      on a mix of energy sources, including
      solar and wind, and battery storage.
      Andy also has a petrol generator,
      which is for backup use only.

      Andy’s place has all the normal,
      modern conveniences, including
      TV and internet and he’s installed a
      roof sprinkling system on the house
      and shed fed by two small dams
      on the property. He collects water
      for domestic use from his roof and
      pumps it into a header tank using an
      electric pump on sunny days.

      Andy estimates he has spent a few
      thousand dollars over the past 25
      years on set up and maintenance of
      his property’s energy generation and
      storage solutions. Andy says, “This
      type of set up is well within everyone’s
      reach. I don’t see any constraints, and
      I don’t understand why more people
      aren’t pursing small-scale energy
      generation and behind-the-meter
      opportunities. There are systems
      available now, second hand, and
      they’re very affordable.”

      Energy storage, via batteries, is key to
      Andy’s success. “Even on cloudy days
      we have electricity because of the
      behind-the-meter storage system.”
20

     UNIQUELY POSITIONED
     FOR A RENEWABLE ENERGY
     FUTURE

     A combination of                       REGIONAL
     natural and built assets               TRANSMISSION
     and infrastructure, an                 INFRASTRUCTURE
     engaged and active                     Large-scale generation development
     community, a skilled                   needs transmission capacity so the
                                            energy produced can be transported
     workforce, a first class               to consumers. The more generators
     university and two TAFE                connect in a particular area, the more
                                            transmission network capacity is
     institutions each with
                                            needed.
     multiple campuses, and
                                            Barwon South West has the benefit of
     a culture which is open                a strategic high voltage, 500 kV
     to change sees Barwon                  transmission line. It links the Latrobe
                                            Valley generators and the Geelong-
     South West as uniquely                 Melbourne metropolitan area in the
     capable of delivering                  east (the state’s major electricity
     and capitalising on                    demand hub), the Portland Aluminium
                                            Smelter to the west (the largest
     the renewable energy                   individual consumer of electricity in
     transition.                            Victoria), and, further west, South
                                            Australia via the Heywood
     This section focuses on the            interconnector. This interconnector is a
     infrastructure and manufacturing       vital link for two-way trade of
     advantages of the region (the          substantial amounts of electricity
     community culture and renewable        between South Australia and Victoria.
     resources are described in other
                                            While this transmission infrastructure
     sections of this Roadmap) and gives
                                            was built originally for large transfers
     some case study examples of how
                                            of electricity from east to west, it now
     this region is open and committed to
                                            increasingly looks set to provide the
     making the most of its combination
                                            means to transport electricity in the
     of assets and experience.
                                            opposite direction.

                                            Connecting to a 500 kV line is
                                            attractive for renewable generation
                                            developers, as their risks of not being
                                            able to maximise their plant’s capacity
                                            are lower than if they connected in
                                            more remote areas without access to
                                            a major transmission line like this.
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap                         21

Transmission infrastructure and Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) of Barwon South West

                                                                                                                                                          500 kV transmission line

                                                                                                                                                          275 kV transmission line

                                                                                                                                                          220 kV transmission line

                                                                                                                                                          Renewable Energy Zone (REZ)
                                                  SOUTHERN
                                               GRAMPIANS SHIRE

             GLENELG SHIRE
                                                         Hamilton

                                                                                                                                                                                        CITY OF
                                                                                                                                                                                        GREATER
                                                                                                                                                                                        GEELONG
                                                                     MOYNE SHIRE
                                                                                       Mortlake
                                                                                                                                                                        Geelong

                                                                                                       Terang
                                                                                                                 Camperdown
                                                                                                                                                         SURF
                                                                                                                                  Colac                  COAST         Torquay
                                    Portland
                                                                                 Warrnambool
                                                                                                      CORANGAMITE
                                                                                                         SHIRE                                                                    BOROUGH OF
                                                                                                                                                                                 QUEENSCLIFFE
                                                                                                                                   COLAC
                                                                                                                                   OTWAY                 Lorne
                                                                          WARRNAMBOOL
                                                                             SHIRE

                                                                                                                                            Apollo Bay

That’s why the Australian Energy
Market Operator (AEMO) identified
                                                                      MANUFACTURING                                                       In this time, Barwon South West
                                                                                                                                          manufacturers have demonstrated
the region surrounding this                                           RENEWABLE ENERGY                                                    significant capability, manufacturing a
transmission line as one of the                                       Manufacturing has been an important                                 range of important renewable energy
optimal zones for development of                                      part of Barwon South West, and                                      components.
Renewable Energy Zones (REZs)                                         particularly the towns of Geelong and                               But these communities know that
in the National Electricity Market                                    Portland. Both have built up expertise                              manufacturing is an extremely
(NEM)8. According to AEMO’s                                           and skills in value-adding to raw                                   competitive sector. Without continual
2018 ISP, the existing transmission                                   materials from our mining sector and                                investment to advance technological
infrastructure could accommodate                                      fabricating and assembling a range                                  capabilities and maintain economies
around 2,000 MW of new generation                                     of metal products for the automotive                                of scale, factories ultimately
capacity (some of which is already                                    sector, defence, construction and                                   get overtaken by international
being built).                                                         homes. As a result it has an extensive                              competitors that do make these
This transmission will allow the                                      supply chain through well established                               investments.
Barwon South West area to exploit                                     businesses, including transport and
                                                                                                                                          Looking forward, manufacturers
its renewable energy resources                                        logistics.
                                                                                                                                          seek policy certainty to invest with
to serve not just local needs for                                     Over the past two decades, our                                      confidence in the long-term outlook.
electricity, but also major demand                                    region has seen renewable energy                                    Investment in new equipment,
centres in Geelong and Melbourne                                      booming globally and seized the                                     technologies and skills is vital
as well as greater Victoria, and via                                  chance to build on its existing                                     for manufacturers to achieve the
interconnection to support other                                      manufacturing capabilities to increase                              kind of scale and technological
states in the NEM.                                                    employment in this growing industry.                                advancement that is critical to global
                                                                                                                                          competitiveness.

8
    Page 48 of AEMO’s 2018 Integrated System Plan. The NEM covers New South Wales and the ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
22

     _
     CASE STUDY

     REVIVING THE OLD
     GEELONG FORD FACTORY
     TO ASSEMBLE WIND
     TURBINES
     When the Berrybank and Dundonnell wind
     farms were selected as two of the winning bids
     under the Victorian Government’s renewable
     energy contracting tender, the turbine supplier
     to the projects – Vestas – agreed to establish a
     manufacturing operation in Victoria.

     In partnership with Geelong-based Marand
     Precision Engineering, Vestas established a turbine
     assembly and testing centre and selected the
     former Ford motor engine factory as a suitable site.

     Vestas Asia Pacific President, Clive Turton,
     observed that, “In Marand we are partnering
     with an experienced manufacturing service
     provider with outstanding capabilities and skilled
     personnel. Their experience in automotive,
     aerospace, defence and rail industries meets all
     of our requirements around quality and technical
     expertise.”

     The revived plant will be used to assemble
     drivetrains and hubs – as well as test other wind
     turbine components that will ultimately be used for
     the Dundonnell and Berrybank Wind Farms. The
     centre will also form a logistics hub for equipment
     and servicing needs of wind farms.

     The establishment of the Vestas centre is expected
     to deliver investment of around $3.5 million
     and directly employ more than 20 people. It
     will also form a training centre that will aim to
     skill-up hundreds of Victorians in wind turbine
     maintenance.

     Vestas will also partner with Deakin University’s
     Carbon Nexus research centre which specialises in
     investigating ways to improve the use and reduce
     the cost of super strong and extremely light carbon
     fibre. This research collaboration will examine
     ways to make wind turbine blades longer, stronger,
     while keeping weight down and make them more
     effective in harnessing the energy within the wind.

     t The Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria at the
       opening of the Vestas centre in Geelong.
       Photo: Vestas
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap      23

_
                                      Over a decade and a half ago,            According to Steve, a pivotal
CASE STUDY                            Australia produced almost all the        element that provided the
                                      towers used for wind turbines in this    confidence to expand employment
WIND TURBINE                          country across several manufacturers.    has been the Victorian Government’s

TOWER                                 Keppel Prince, based in Portland in
                                      Barwon South West, has ridden the
                                                                               target to expand renewable energy
                                                                               to 50 percent by 2030, and the fact

MANUFACTURING                         roller coaster of Australia’s changing
                                      climate change and energy policies
                                                                               they’ve backed this with a process
                                                                               for awarding contracts to new
IN PORTLAND                           and is now the only manufacturer         wind power projects that requires
                                      remaining.                               minimum levels of local content.

                                      Keppel Prince General Manager,           Steve says the wind industry is always
                                      Steve Garner, oversees a plant that      advancing, with towers growing
                                      began manufacturing wind turbine         in size to exploit the use of longer
                                      towers in 2000, when Victoria’s first    turbine blades which can extract
                                      private sector commercial wind farm      greater amounts of energy from
                                      was established at Codrington.           lower wind speeds. This creates
                                                                               opportunities, but also challenges,
                                      Right now the business is strong. With
                                                                               because the larger base required
                                      a total of 360 staff, it is the second
                                                                               for these taller towers necessitates
                                      largest private sector employer
                                                                               investment in larger manufacturing
                                      in Portland, not far behind the
                                                                               facilities – investments that only make
                                      aluminium smelter. Keppel Prince’s
                                                                               sense with confidence orders will
                                      tower manufacturing operation
p Steve Garner, General Manager
                                                                               continue over the longer term.
                                      doubled its workforce in 2018, thanks
  of Keppel Prince, a wind turbine
  manufacturer in Portland Victoria   to a surge in construction of new
  with the Minister for Energy, 		    wind farms across Victoria.
  Environment and Climate Change
  the Hon Lily D'Ambrosio, MP.
  Photo: The Warrnambool Standard
24

     RENEWABLE
     ENERGY
     GENERATION
     IN BARWON
     SOUTH WEST
     As was reflected in the
     community’s feedback, the
     key sources of renewable
     energy generation in
     Barwon South West are
     wind and solar. Biomass is
     an emerging technology
     which is increasingly being
     harnessed in our region.
     Barwon South West communities have
     an appetite for innovation and are keen
     to learn about, and if possible use new
     renewable energy generation sources,
     which may still be in their infancy. Over
     the years geothermal generation has
     been experimented with in Barwon South
     West, and with a world famous coastline,
     great knowledge and experience
     has been gained via various trials to
     harness the ocean’s energy. The most
     successful renewable energy generation
     technologies used now, and likely in the
     future in Barwon South West, are wind,
     solar and, increasingly, biomass and
     these are the focus of this section of the
     Roadmap.

     t Macarthur Wind Farm
Barwon South West Renewable Energy Roadmap     25

                        WIND
The Barwon South West region                                           As a result of early concerns a broad                          In addition, the region has another
possesses some of the highest                                          policy change was introduced,                                  five wind power projects currently
quality wind resources that are close                                  restricting wind farms from                                    under construction, equal to 806
to robust transmission infrastructure.                                 being built within two kilometres                              MW of capacity, and a further two
                                                                       of a dwelling, and excluding                                   projects of 79 MW which have
It is why it was a pioneering region
                                                                       development altogether in areas                                been contracted but are not yet
in the development of wind power
                                                                       of Victoria considered to be a                                 committed to construction. These
in the country. Codrington Wind
                                                                       ‘protected landscape’, such as the                             projects are anticipated to produce
Farm, located west of Port Fairy,
                                                                       Macedon Ranges.                                                close to another three million
was the first modern wind farm
                                                                                                                                      MWh of electricity per year – equal
developed and built by the private                                     Although the early 2010s saw a
                                                                                                                                      to 780,000 Victorian households’
sector in 2001. Codrington and the                                     slowing of investment in wind in
                                                                                                                                      electricity consumption. This
other “Portland Four” wind farms                                       the region, Macarthur Wind Farm,
                                                                                                                                      exceeds the combined number of
– Yambuk, Cape Bridgewater and                                         connected in 2012, has stood for
                                                                                                                                      households across every region of
Cape Nelson (south and north) and                                      several years as Australia’s largest
                                                                                                                                      Victoria outside of metropolitan
Cape Sir William Grant – were also                                     wind farm by a substantial margin
                                                                                                                                      Melbourne.
built in this period, and all are still                                (it has 420 MW of capacity with the
operating today.                                                       next largest project being 270 MW).                            Projects that have been contracted
                                                                                                                                      or have entered construction since
Across the mid-to-late 2000s,                                          After 2014, and in the context of
                                                                                                                                      2016 are providing substantial
the trend of large-scale wind                                          a new state government policy
                                                                                                                                      employment in Barwon South West
farm development continued.                                            supportive of renewable energy, a
                                                                                                                                      and across the rest of the country.
A slew of permit applications                                          number of new permit applications
                                                                                                                                      Once construction of all these
was made, including Macarthur,                                         came forward including Golden
                                                                                                                                      projects are complete they are
Oaklands Hill (Glenthompson), Mt                                       Plains and Dundonnell wind farms.
                                                                                                                                      estimated to have provided around
Gellibrand, Moreton’s Lane, Salt                                       A number of previously approved
                                                                                                                                      2,000 job years of employment.9
Creek, Woolsthorpe, Ryan Corner,                                       applications also moved to
Hawkesdale, Mortlake South and                                         construction stage.                                            The combination of our region’s
Berrybank. Of these, Macarthur,                                                                                                       currently operating wind farms
                                                                       In 2017, the State Government
Oaklands Hill, Mt Gellibrand,                                                                                                         and those in construction and
                                                                       introduced its Victorian Renewable
Morton’s Lane and Salt Creek are all                                                                                                  contracted will produce around a
                                                                       Energy Target (VRET) legislation,
operational.                                                                                                                          quarter of Victoria’s entire supplies
                                                                       and also set a target for greenhouse
                                                                                                                                      of renewable energy.
In the Grampians region to the                                         gas emission reduction across the
north, the Waubra and Challicum                                        state. The region currently has wind
Hills wind farms were also approved                                    farms in operation with a total of
and constructed during this time.                                      698 MW of capacity. These projects
The Waubra Wind Farm became the                                        produce almost 1.9 million MWh
focus of concern about noise and                                       per annum. This is equal to the
health impacts.                                                        average electricity consumption of
                                                                       484,000 Victorian households – more
                                                                       than double the total number of
                                                                       households in the entire Barwon
                                                                       South West region.

9
    ROAM Consulting/Ernst & Young research undertaken for the Clean Energy Council which estimated 0.1 FTEs per megawatt installed.
    ROAM Consulting (2014) Report of the Clean Energy Council – RET Policy Analysis
26

     Wind farm development across Barwon South West

                                                                                                                                 Operating                                     Permit application lodged

                                                                                                                                 Under construction                            EES in preparation

                                                                                                                                 Approved (not operational)                    Pre-application (announced)

                                                                               Oaklands Hill
                                                                                        32
                                                                                                        Hexam
                                                                                                         125
                                                                           Mortons Lane
                                                                                     13
                                                                                                               Salt Creek
                                                              Hamilton                                           15
                                                                                                                                                        Berrybank
                                                                         Hawkesdale                                                                       79
                                                                                26                                                Dundonnell
                          Kentbruck                                                                                                80
                                                                                                                                                                        Mt Gellibrand
                            157                                                                                                                                          44
                                                           Macarthur
                                                                                                                                 My Fyans
                                                                 140
                                                                                                             Mortlake             85
                                                                                                                                                                                             Geelong
                                                      Willatook
                                                             83
                                                                                                                        Terang
                                              Codrington                                   Woolsthorpe                            Camperdown
                                                      14                                    20                                                  Colac                                       Torquay
                                                Portland
                   Portland                                                                    Warrnambool
          Cape Bridgewater                                                                                                                                                              Inverleigh
                                                           Yambuk            Ryan Corner
                         29                                                                                                                                                               16
                                                               20              56
                                                                                                                                                                             Lorne
                              Portland
                           Cape Nelson           Portland                                 Mortlake South
                                    22           Cape Sir William &                                   35
                                                 Cape Nelson North
                                                   23                                                Timboon                                               Apollo Bay
                                                                                                        West
                                                                                                           3                         Ferguson
                                                                                                                                       3

     THE OUTLOOK FOR                                                         This is equal to the consumption
                                                                             of almost 2.9 million Victorian
                                                                                                                                                 projects proposed, and upgrades
                                                                                                                                                 would be required. Other important
     WIND                                                                    households, and 24 percent of                                       factors influencing whether projects
     In addition to the 698 MW of capacity                                   Victoria’s overall annual electricity                               proceed include whether there is
     currently operating, the region                                         consumption.                                                        sufficient local community support,
     has an additional 885 MW under                                                                                                              when existing fossil fuel capacity
                                                                             Substantial employment would
     construction or contracted, with a                                                                                                          retires, and the potential addition
                                                                             be created through construction
     further 3,644 MW of wind farm sites                                                                                                         of energy storage such as pumped
                                                                             of these projects, equivalent to
     identified for development. On top                                                                                                          hydro and batteries to the wider grid.
                                                                             around 4,700 full time jobs over
     of the 1,583 MW of wind power                                           a two year construction period.                                     Even if only half of the proposed
     projects that are operating, under                                      Ongoing employment in the                                           capacity proceeds, it would represent
     construction or contracted in Barwon                                    operation and maintenance of the                                    a substantial source of new power
     South West, another 3,644 MW of                                         wind turbines would provide full                                    supply and employment for Victoria
     wind farm sites have been identified                                    time work for 360 people over the                                   and Barwon South West. It would
     for development.                                                        25 year life of these projects.                                     also lead to a dramatic reduction in
     If all of these projects were able to                                                                                                       Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions,
                                                                             Whether these projects ultimately
     obtain sufficient transmission capacity                                                                                                     which is vital given Victoria has one
                                                                             proceed to construction will be
     and proceeded to construction,                                                                                                              of the most emission intensive power
                                                                             determined by a complex array
     they could be expected to produce                                                                                                           supplies in the developed world.10
                                                                             of factors. The region’s current
     around 11.2 million MWh of electricity                                  transmission infrastructure is
     a year.                                                                 insufficient to support all of the

     10
          From the OECD’s website, at www.compareyourcountry.org/climate-policies
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