With a growing national portfolio of renewable energy projects, Ark Energy is focusing on its larger utility-scale wind energy projects. As a result the company has made the difficult decision to cease development of the Western Plains Wind Farm. With a proposed output capacity of 50.4 megawatts (MW), the project was the smallest in Ark Energy’s portfolio. It has now been withdrawn from the planning process.

Progress in the renewable energy industry and the need for more renewable energy capacity to be delivered sooner has accelerated. The size, wind turbine capacity and total output capacity of projects has been increasing rapidly.

While the tip of the Stanley peninsula is an exceptionally windy location and the world leading wind resource makes it an excellent site for a wind farm, the scale of the project no longer fits with the priorities of Ark Energy’s portfolio.

The project team has many people to thank for their input and contribution to this project over the past six years.

Our thanks go to all those in Stanley and the wider north-west Tasmania community who have engaged with us and also to Circular Head Council and other important stakeholders for their consideration.

We especially thank the many private landowners who were involved, in particular the owners of the site for the opportunity to progress the project and for their unwavering support. We also wish to acknowledge their respectful stewardship of large areas of the Stanley peninsula.

Ark Energy’s team also appreciates the input and engagement of the various advisers and consultants who have been involved in this project.

Ark Energy believes the only way forward for Australia is to transition swiftly to renewable energy. The company remains committed to its other utility-scale wind farm projects in Tasmania and around the country.

Download the Western Plains Wind Farm Update - October 2023