Esperance Wind Farms - WA

Despite its attraction to tourists, Esperance is an isolated town and it is not connected to the electricity grid. Before the installation of wind turbines, the electrical needs of Esperance town and surrounding districts were supplied solely from a diesel power station. The Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm was the first commercial wind farm in Australia. The Nine Mile Beach Wind Farm, built with the financial assistance of the Australian Greenhouse Office through the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Development Office, adds more wind energy to the local electrical system.Together the Ten Mile Lagoon and Nine Mile Beach Electrical Wind Farms have a capacity of 5.6 Megawatts and save about 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. They operate in parallel with the 30 Megawatt Esperance gas turbine power station. construction of the that are situated on a coastal ridge 16 km west of Esperance. This area lies in the northern extremities of the reliable Roaring Forties winds. The Ten Mile Lagoon wind farm was the first commercial wind farm built in Australia that is still operating. Visitors are welcome - free. Simply drive via there via the Great Ocean Drive and take the entrance road "Windfarm Road". After parking, walk along the sealed trail and marvel at the sound, height and presence of this structures and enjoy stunning views of the Wind Farm and ocean.In 2022 the wind farm was decommissioned and dismantled. There is now nothing to see, other than an isolated empty car park (which may be a suitable free camp)