Project

Jims Plain and Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park

PROJECT STATUS
Announced
Jims Plain and Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park

The Jim's Plain and Robbins Island Renewable Energy Parks project seeks to develop two wind farms, with the potential for connection to large-scale battery storage, in the north-west of Tasmania. The project also includes construction of a new transmission line, from Robbins Island to Hampshire via Jim's Plain, that would connect the energy parks to the Tasmanian transmission network.

The Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park would include an approximate 340 megawatt wind farm as Stage One. A second stage of the project being considered, subject to the development of Marinus Link, could bring total capacity of the energy park up to 1,000 megawatts. The project's wider scope includes construction of a bridge connecting Robbins Island to mainland Tasmania, as well as a 500 metre piled wharf on the north-east of the island to receive turbine components and other materials for the construction and operation of the park.

Jim's Plain is located about 23 kilometres west of Smithton in Tasmania's north-west. The site will include up to 31 wind turbines and solar PV, with a total capacity of up to 240 megawatts. The energy park could produce up to 200 megawatts of wind energy and up to 40 megawatts of solar energy.

A 115 kilometre, 220 kilovolt overhead transmission line is proposed to connect the Renewable Energy Parks to the Tasmanian transmission network.

Plans for the new transmission line include:

  • cables embedded into a bridge to move electricity from Robbins Island to mainland Tasmania
  • cables connected to an overhead transmission line that continues to the Jim's Plain substation, and
  • a transmission line connecting Jim's Plain Substation to the TasNetworks Hampshire to Staverton line at Hampshire.

Financing

Finance for the project is expected to be sourced from or sought by a private vehicle comprising UPC Renewables and the Hammond family, who own Robbins Island and operate a wagyu beef farm on the island.

PROJECT HISTORY

Jun 2020 The Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency and local council approved the project.
Jul 2020 The Federal Government granted approval for the project.
Estimated Total Cost
(2024)
Sector
Energy
Procurement approach
Unconfirmed |
Location
Tasmania |
Resources
Project website
Robin's Island Wind Farm
Government resources
Federal EPBC Approval
Other
Project Page