from the ABC (Australia)

One of Australia’s first commercial wind farms has been earmarked for decommissioning after its owners ruled out replacing aging turbines due to cost.

The Codrington Wind Farm opened near Port Fairy in south-west Victoria in July 2001, marking a new frontier in renewable energy in Australia.

The site was deemed “close to perfect” due to its strong prevailing winds off the Southern Ocean when Premier Steve Bracks opened what was at the time Australia’s largest wind farm. But the turbines have to be replaced and it is unaffordable to do so. The alternative is also unappealing as it requires the farm to be demolished.

The cheaper of the options is to demolish and restore the land. There is no way of recycling the blades, so they will go to landfill, the metal work to scrap and the 20,000 tonne foundation will have to remain in the ruined farmland.

The returns from this installation after 24 years are less than the expenditure.