Ark Energy is pleased to announce the successful handover of the St Patricks Plains Wind Farm, approved for the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, to new owner Vestas Development Australia.

Following eight years of planning and environmental approvals, originally by renewable developer Epuron and later Ark Energy’s development team, this critical milestone paves the way for construction of the 47 wind turbine project, which is slated to commence next year.

The project was approved by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in September 2025, after an appeal to the planning permit issued by Central Highlands Council in July 2024. It was approved by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in December 2025.

Over the course of its development the project's layout was revised several times based on findings from eagle utilisation and environmental surveys, technical studies and community feedback, and reduced from an initial 67 wind turbines to a final layout of up to 47 wind turbines.

Environmental and social commitments include installation of industry-leading curtailment technology to protect eagles, a Neighbour Benefit Program and significant community benefit funding for the life of the project.

“Handing the project over to the company that will take it to the next stage of development is an exciting moment for Ark Energy, the St Patricks Plains Wind Farm and for Tasmania,” said Ark Energy’s General Manager Development for Tasmania, Donna Bolton.

“This comes at a time when more generation is needed for Tasmania. We are proud of the work done to secure approvals for this significant wind energy generation facility for the state. We know the jobs and investment expected to flow into local businesses and services is highly anticipated.”

In 2022, the project was the subject of a petition of support by local residents looking forward to the environmental, economic and community benefits it can deliver.

“We sincerely thank the project’s landowners, neighbours and community members for their support and involvement over the past eight years and throughout the project’s planning and approvals. The local planning and environment specialists we have worked with are amongst the best in Australia,” Ms Bolton said.

“Vestas has a deep relationship with Tasmania and we are confident it will be a good neighbour and deliver meaningful benefits to the local community and wider region as the project moves forward to construction.”

St Patricks Plains Wind Farm was Ark Energy’s first project in Tasmania to secure approvals. The approval is for a wind farm of up to 47 wind turbines with a generation capacity of up to 300 MW and ancillary infrastructure, which would be enough electricity to power ~131,000 average-sized Australian households per year.

The project will continue to work through consent conditions including geotechnical engineering and detailed design and management plans.

Construction is targeted to commence in the first half of 2027, and the wind farm to be operational in 2030.