Funding Fuels Future for Tasmania’s Huxley Wind Farm

Hydro Tasmania is investing $11.5 million to upgrade the Huxley Hill Wind Farm, one of Australia’s oldest wind farms on King Island, located 80 km off Tasmania's north-west coast. Built in 1998, this wind farm is a cornerstone of King Island’s innovative off-grid hybrid energy system, which powers the entire island without any connection to mainland electricity.

According to Hydro Tasmania’s Executive General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, Jesse Clark, the investment will extend the life of Huxley Hill’s five wind turbines for at least another decade. “King Island has pioneered renewable energy systems, serving as a model for remote communities worldwide,” said Clark. Instead of purchasing new turbines, Hydro Tasmania is “repowering” the existing turbines with refurbished equipment, reducing waste and costs by reusing as many original parts as possible.

The upgrade includes foundation reinforcement, tower refurbishments, and restored nacelles from Denmark, with turbine blades being restored on-site to keep materials out of landfills. These improvements will allow Huxley Hill’s wind turbines to work seamlessly with King Island’s 5,000-panel solar farm, a battery, and diesel generators, all of which together supply the island's continuous energy. Before these systems, diesel powered King Island around the clock. Now, the wind farm alone meets about 32% of the island’s energy demand, saving approximately 640,000 liters of diesel per year.

Extreme weather and logistics are major challenges. The refurbishment project requires massive cranes brought in by ship to lift turbine components into place. Clark commended the King Island team for their expertise, saying they are well-prepared to manage the challenging conditions.

King Island Production Supervisor, Jeramy Whitehouse-Summers, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the local team, noting that finding skilled staff in a remote community of 1,600 residents is no easy task. “Team dynamics and ensuring everyone is happy and working together is crucial,” he said. Whitehouse-Summers, who has grown up on King Island, added, “Supplying power to the community is a great passion of mine, and it’s a shared mission for the team.”

The Huxley Hill Wind Farm refurbishment project, which began in September 2024, is set for completion by 2027, marking a sustainable future for King Island and an enduring model of renewable energy for remote communities.

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