Palmer wind farm, east of Adelaide, approved in 2024 with reduced number of turbines due to community objection

The wind farm approved in 2024 to be buit between between the townships Palmer and Tungkillo would have only 40 wind turbines, less than the original 203 due to local community opposition, but they would be larger turbines could generate a similar level of energy while allowing bigger setbacks from dwellings and townships.
Image courtesy Tilt Renewables

The 288-megawatt Palmer wind farm, expected to power 144,000 homes when connected to the South Australian electricity network, gained project approval from the Australian government in 2024.

The Palmer wind farm would be built between the townships Palmer and Tungkillo, about 50 kilometres east of Adelaide, for Tilt Renewables. The wind farm would have 40 turbines generating up to 288MW (megawatts) of clean energy.

The number of turbines was reduced from 103 to 40 after local community objections. The project was also reduced by more than 5,000 hectares. Tilt Renewables said the fewer but larger turbines could generate a similar level of clean renewable energy while allowing bigger setbacks from existing dwellings and townships.

Speaking after the project was approved, federal environment and water minister Tanya Plibersek said its site was already cleared land and used for grazing: “The project demonstrates how good site selection can lead to faster environmental approvals. Projects need to be placed in the right areas and designed so that their environmental impacts are minimised— as is the case with this wind farm.”

But the federal member for the seat of Barker Tony Pasin told the Sunday Mail in Adelaide that  the Anthony Albanese Labor government was ignoring local opposition to the project in pursuit of its "renewables-only agenda".